The Freedom Party of Austria under Heinz-Christian Strache (2005-2019)

Abstract

This paper wants to investigate the role that the leader Heinz-Christian Strache played in the broader context of the history and ideological profile of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ). Strache was the chairman of the Freedom Party since 2005 till the Ibiza scandal of the year 2019.  Firstly, a short biography of Strache will highlight important influences that shaped his political persona. Then the changes in the FPÖ party programme as well as political narrative will be analyzed. The paper will conclude with an attempt to summarize Strache’s legacy for the FPÖ.