Austria ready for elections: Sebastian Kurz favourite in polls, who will he form a coalition with

(Patria) – Parliamentary elections will be held in Austria on Sunday, four months after the release of a scandalous video that caused the collapse of the far-right and conservative coalition formed in 2017.

Poll results show that former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has a strong chance of victory, but also that he will need coalition partners to secure a majority.

It is still unknown whether Kurz will return to his old ally the FPO (Freedom Party of Austria, far-right, populist national-conservative party) or change direction in search of new partners.

The coalition government collapsed shortly after far-right leader and Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache was forced to resign following the public release of a video showing Strache on Ibiza offering help to a relative of a Russian oligarch regarding state contracts and advising her on how to circumvent financial laws.

The elections will show whether and to what extent the scandal has affected the popularity of the Austrian right.

At the same time, Kurz has shrewdly positioned himself as a victim of the scandal and is largely not considered involved. His People's Party (OVP) leads in opinion polls with around 34% support.

Political analyst Peter Filzmaier believes that disappointed FPO supporters will simply switch to the OVP.

Other political experts also believe that the best and easiest option is to maintain the previously tested coalition, as the FPO will benefit from 20% support for the right (poll result) and thus secure a majority.

The two parties share common views on many political and social issues and strongly oppose immigration.