Austrian Social Democrat head slams far right as danger to democracy

A day before Austrians head to the polls, the Social Democratic (SPÖ) lead candidate Andreas Babler called the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) a danger to democracy in an address to supporters on Saturday.

"We are the firewall against everything that endangers this democratic republic," Babler told supporters at the party's final campaigning event in Vienna ahead of Sunday's parliamentary election.

Pollsters predict the far-right party is set to gain the most support in the election.

Babler said that the entire Freedom Party of Austria, not just its chairman Herbert Kickl, would shake the foundations of democracy.

Babler said his party would not allow general suspicion to be cast on people who have lived in the country for three or four generations, "who have built up this prosperity side-by-side" with Austrians.

The Freedom Party of Austria intends to crack down on immigration with full force if it takes over the government, and also accelerate the deportation of migrants to their home countries.

Babler was addressing people in Favoriten, the working-class district of Vienna, a strategic choice in his campaigning.

On Sunday, nearly 6.4 million citizens in Austria are eligible to elect a new parliament.

Polls show the Social Democrats could win 20.6% of the vote, below their previous record low in 2019 when they garnered 21.2%.

Pollsters say the far right would gain 27%.

Chancellor Karl Nehammer's conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) would gain 25%, according to polls.

The Greens, currently governing in coalition with the Austrian People's Party, are expected to secure around 9% of the votes, as are the liberal NEOS party.