Vienna – The political tensions simmering in Austria are extending into the country’s entertainment landscape, with the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) facing a minor, yet symbolically resonant, setback. A song explicitly supporting the party, “Immer vorwärts FPÖ – Featuring Herbert Kickl,” recently fell off the Austria Top 40 Single-Charts, according to reports. The track, aggressively promoted by the FPÖ and its affiliated radio station, no longer appears within the top 75 singles.
While the removal from the charts might seem a small matter, it arrives amidst a broader effort by the FPÖ to reshape Austria’s public broadcasting system, the Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF). The party, alongside its coalition partner the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), has been vocal about its intention to significantly cut funding and restructure the ORF, a move that has sparked concerns about the independence of Austrian media.
The FPÖ’s targeting of the ORF isn’t new. Since gaining electoral success in 2024, the party has consistently criticized the broadcaster, alleging bias and demanding greater control over its operations. This latest incident, involving the song’s chart performance, underscores the party’s willingness to leverage all available platforms – including music – to promote its agenda. The song’s failure to maintain chart position, however, suggests that public appetite for such overt political messaging in popular music may be limited.
The broader context is one of increasing political polarization in Austria. The FPÖ’s rise has been accompanied by a series of attacks on journalists and media outlets perceived as critical of the party. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the verbal assaults and threats directed at Armin Wolf, a prominent news presenter on ORF, following an interview with FPÖ MEP Harald Vilimsky. Vilimsky reportedly threatened Wolf with dismissal if he controlled the ORF, and other party representatives further amplified the attacks, drawing comparisons to the Nazi era.
These attacks are part of a pattern, according to RSF, of repeated attempts to intimidate ORF journalists since the FPÖ joined the government in December 2017. Austria’s ranking in RSF’s World Press Freedom Index has subsequently fallen, a decline attributed in part to this hostile environment.
The proposed restructuring of the ORF is multifaceted. The ÖVP has suggested abolishing the FM4 radio channel, merging ORF 3 with ORF1, and freezing the ORF contribution beyond 2026. The FPÖ, meanwhile, has called for the complete abolition of the contribution fee, a key source of funding for the public broadcaster. Both parties have also demanded the creation of new ORF committees, raising fears about increased political interference.
The situation echoes past controversies surrounding the FPÖ and its relationship with the media. The “Ibiza affair” of 2019, triggered by the publication of a secretly recorded video featuring then-Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache and Johann Gudenus, exposed alleged underhanded practices and intentions within the party. The scandal led to the collapse of the Austrian governing coalition and an early election. While seemingly unrelated to the current ORF dispute, the Ibiza affair highlights a history of questionable conduct and political maneuvering within the FPÖ.
The Association of European Journalists and other media experts have expressed their concerns about the potential impact of these changes on the independence of the ORF. A petition has been launched calling for political support to protect the broadcaster, recognizing its vital role in providing independent and impartial news and information to the Austrian public.
The fate of the ORF remains uncertain as negotiations between the FPÖ and ÖVP continue. The removal of the FPÖ’s song from the charts, while a minor detail, serves as a reminder of the broader cultural and political battles being waged in Austria. The outcome of these negotiations will have significant implications for the future of public broadcasting and media freedom in the country, and will likely be closely watched by media organizations and press freedom advocates across Europe.
The current standoff represents a critical juncture for Austrian media. The FPÖ’s actions, coupled with the ÖVP’s willingness to consider significant cuts and restructuring, raise fundamental questions about the role of public service broadcasting in a democratic society. The debate extends beyond budgetary concerns, touching upon issues of journalistic independence, political influence, and the public’s right to access diverse and reliable information.
