A Far-Right Government in Austria Would Be a Jolt, but Not Unexpected NYT | Top Stories Jim Tankersley and Christopher F. Schuetze 8 January 2025 at 18:34 The Freedom Party and its leader, Herbert Kickl, have steadily built support by demonizing immigrants, while entering Austria’s political mainstream. © Lisa Leutner/ReutersHerbert Kickl, the leader of the far-right Freedom Party, after speaking with reporters on Tuesday in Vienna.