FPÖ and AfD make a pact: A commitment to security in Favoriten!

FPÖ and AfD make a pact: A commitment to security in Favoriten!

On July 16, 2025, the Vienna FPÖ and the Berlin AfD concluded a pact in Favoriten, which was celebrated as an important step towards strengthening the “liberal-conservative renewal”. The aim of this collaboration is to build a long-term network of like-minded cities in Europe that deals with pressing political issues. Viennese FPÖ leader Dominik Nepp described the AfD as a reliable partner to preserve cultural and political identity and emphasized the need to act together against the challenges of illegal immigration, terrorist threats and increasing crime. These issues were also at the center of discussions between the two parties.

The agreement covers a variety of important areas such as security, migration, education and housing. Regular exchange formats, joint events and citizen dialogues are planned in order to directly address citizens' concerns. “Freedom, order and personal responsibility” should be the guiding principle, said deputy district leader Christian Schuch, who received the AfD state parliament club in Favoriten. He highlighted the parallels between the development of the two cities, particularly with regard to the problems related to crime and immigration. The Vienna Greens expressed sharp criticism of this move, pointing out that the AfD is classified as “certainly right-wing extremist” by the German Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which increases concerns about cooperation.

Security challenges

The issues surrounding security and migration are important not only in Vienna, but in many European cities. Data from European security authorities show that right-wing extremist violence and right-wing terrorism are classified as highly threatening. Germany in particular has been rocked by several right-wing extremist-motivated attacks in recent years, raising questions about the security of citizens and communities. According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, right-wing extremism represents the greatest threat to democracy. The racist murders in Hanau in 2020 and the murder of the politician Walter Lübcke also show the abysses that are deeply anchored in society.

The figures from terrorism researchers show that between 1990 and 2015, Germany and Sweden recorded the most right-wing extremist-motivated attacks. Security authorities also reported an increase in the number of terrorist suspects arrested, which indicates increased activity within the right-wing extremist scene. Given these developments, the cooperation agreement between the Vienna FPÖ and the Berlin AfD could be seen as a reflection on how to deal with these challenges and an attempt to create a platform for their demands.

The role of society

The social conditions that favor the flourishing of right-wing extremist ideologies are complex. Experts warn that young people are more vulnerable to violent escalations, especially in cliques or during protests. New phenomena such as the “incel” subculture, which is gaining visibility through social media, could also lead to further tensions in society. Despite these challenges, many recent studies agree that it is difficult to draw a clear statistical link between socioeconomic factors and terrorist attacks.

So the problems that the FPÖ and the AfD are concerned about are not just local issues, but part of a larger European phenomenon. It remains to be seen what steps the two parties will take and the extent to which they will be able to put their promises into action while addressing the societal tensions that may arise from their political agendas.