Barely a week after Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl was tapped by the Austrian president to form a new government, there was immediate discussion of whether the chancellor designate would jet to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20th to observe the inauguration of Donald Trump as president of the United States.
Dubbed "the Austrian Donald Trump" by admirers and detractors alike, Kickl is the latest in a line of populist figures to rise to power in Europe. Prime Ministers Viktor Orban of Hungary and Giorgia Meloni of Italy are invited to attend the inauguration, along with British Reform Party leader Nigel Farage.
The news about Kickl possibly coming for the inaugural festivities comes on the heels of the biggest-ever triumph of his Freedom Party — now 68 years old and as controversial as ever. Its manifesto of halting immigration, stopping acceptance of refugees, and ending support for Ukraine resonated with voters. In elections Sept. 29, the Freedom Party topped the field of parties with 29.9%.
Its first-place showing and securing of the most parliamentary seats notwithstanding, the Freedom Party did not get the first crack at forming the government. Ruling out cooperation with the Freedom Party, the ruling People's Party, and the Social Democrats tried to form a grand coalition but without success.
Chancellor Karl Nehammer of the People's Party abruptly resigned in early January and President Alexander Van der Bellen turned to Kickl.
In the last several days, Kickl and the People's Party have moved closer to an alliance that will hold a majority of the seats in government.
"Kickl told them if they don't agree with the way he is doing business, this is fine with him because then there can be new elections," said Raimund Loew, former Washington, D.C., bureau chief of Austrian Television. "That is something the ÖVP is very much afraid of after the whole mess," he said of the People's Party.
Several polls show that if another election were called, the Freedom Party would leap to 35% and have an even bigger plurality in parliament.
Such a scenario frightens opponents to a great degree.
Dr. Ruth Wodak, author of several works on the rise of populism in Europe, predicted to Newsmax: "Kickl's government will most probably lead to quite significant changes leading to an Orban-ization [the 'illiberal democracy' of Hungary's prime minister Orban] of Austria: limiting press freedom; limiting the independence of the justice system; changing gender politics; limiting freedom of science. Thus, we might experience the end of Austria's liberal democracy."
For now, the big question surrounding Kickl before he even takes office as chancellor is whether he will be in Washington for Trump's big event.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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