Tens of thousands turn out to oppose far-right party in Austria

Tens of thousands of people protested in Vienna on Thursday against the formation of a government led by the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ).

In Vienna alone, approximately 25,000 people gathered in front of the Chancellor's Office in the evening, according to authorities. There were also protests in Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Graz.

The Vienna demonstrators held up signs and banners saying, "We don't want a far-right Austria" and "Never again is now."

Many slogans were also directed against the leader of the far-right FPÖ, Herbert Kickl, as a potential chancellor.

The crowd booed after the announcement that the FPÖ was starting coalition talks with the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), a step that came after previous talks failed among mainstream parties seeking to prevent the far-right from governing.

The FPÖ won Austria's parliamentary elections in autumn, the first time a far-right party has done so there since the Nazi era.

After the centrist parties failed to agree on possible coalitions, Kickl was given the mandate to form a government by President Alexander Van der Bellen.

Thursday's demonstration was organized by social and church groups alongside organizations advocating for environmental issues and refugees.

In their call for demonstrators to take to the streets, the organizers said "an authoritarian attack on democracy, human rights, environmental protection and social cohesion is looming in our country."

Left-wing parties were also present at the rally.

The "Alert for the Republic!" rally was held on Ballhausplatz in front of the Chancellery.