Sebastian Kurz poised to become Europe’s youngest leader after Austria election success

YOU might not have heard of this guy before, but he’s about to become a pretty big deal. Question is, is he crazy?

Austria's Foreign Minister and leader of Austria's centre-right People's Party (OeVP) Sebastian Kurz speaks to supporters during the party's election event in Vienna, Austria. Picture: Joe Klamar

HE’S only been in the job since May, but in less than six months, this millennial has already caused a movement, and his latest victory has been compared by some to an “earthquake”.

In fact he’s so popular, he’s been dubbed in his homeland, the “wonderkid” and one of the most influential Europeans by Politico.

Not many Australians might have heard the name Sebastian Kurz until recently, but now that the leader of Austria’s right-leaning People’s Party has declared victory in a national election, it’s a name we’re likely to hear a lot more of.

Sebastian Kurz (R), Austrian Foreign Minister and leader of the conservative Austrian People's Party (OeVP), speaks to supporters after initial results give the party a first place finish. Picture: Sean Gallup

And not just because of his incredibly handsome good looks — the Austrian Foreign Minister is poised to become Europe’s youngest head of government at 31.

“He had the chutzpah his campaign on a platform of change, with posters announcing “time for something new”, The Guardian wrote.

Yet more disturbing claims suggest he is a “mini-dictator” running a “one-man show”.

He is two years younger than North Korean leader Kim Jong-un — and he’s already been involved in a scandal where he held a “sexy” party, distributed condoms and admitted he lost his virginity at 15 in 2010.

His entire campaign has been based — and fairly successful — in the idea of cutting migration. In the 24-hours before polls opened, he used every platform he had to spread the message: “Stop illegal immigration.”

He calls the 560,000 Muslims living in Austria the “parallel community”.

Kurz’s Austrian People's Party (OeVP) won 31.4% of the vote in the Austrian parliamentary elections. Picture: Sean Gallup

Susanne Thier, left, girlfriend of Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, and Philippa Strache, wife of Freedom Party leader Hans-Christian Strache, in Vienna, Austria. Picture: Matthias Schrader

As Europe struggles to contain its migration crisis Austria has seen a sharp tilt to the right; the People’s Party saw a 5 per cent increase of the vote after the last election in 2013.

Kurz has been at the forefront of the conversation and is hailed as transforming his party into a “movement” while taking a tough stance on refugees.

Austria has been a frustrated country since the migration crisis began in 2015. Since, it has been used as a portal into Germany for more than one million refugees fleeing war in the Middle East. Kurz organised the shutdown of the popular overland route through the West Balkans many newcomers were using to reach the EU’s prosperous heartland last year — and frequently reminded voters.

The nation also took in 90,000 asylum seekers, which, similarly to Germany, turned the tide on feelings towards migrants. It has refused to accept more ever since.

There are genuine concerns over the future for Austria and the direction in which Kurz will steer the ship; some say the win means the death of equality and a Trump-like turn to the right.

His burqa ban came into force just last month. despite the fact Vienna magazine Falter alleged Kurz’s team doctored a report on Islamic nurseries to justify the ban.

Sebastian Kurz and his partner Susanne Thier pictured in front of a polling station during general elections in Vienna. Picture: Alex Halada

Suave. Picture: Thomas Kronsteiner

While no party won a majority, the telegenic Kurz is most likely to be sworn in as Austria’s next chancellor — and Europe’s youngest leader — after the tough coalition government negotiations that lie ahead.

Near-final results from Sunday’s balloting put his People’s Party comfortably in first place, with 31.4 per cent of the vote.

The right-wing Freedom Party came in second with 27.4 per cent. Its leader, Heinz-Christian Strache has a controversial past with the Nazis and anti-semitic inclinations. Kurz is likely to include Strache into his government.

The centre-left Social Democratic Party of Austria, which now governs in coalition with People’s Party, got 26.7 per cent.

Becoming head of government would be the next leap in a political career that started eight years ago when Kurz, then studying law, was elected chairman of his party’s youth branch. He was elected leader of the party in May.

— Additional reporting by Associated Press

Sebastian Kurz (R), Christian Kern, (C) Austrian Chancellor and leader of the Austrian Social Democrats (SPOe) and Heinz-Christian Strache, lead candidate of the right-wing Austria Freedom Party (FPOe) give television interviews following Austrian parliamentary elections.

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