The FPÖ is a male-dominated party. Indicatively, in the National Council club, led by party leader Herbert Kickl, the proportion of women is only 23 percent. For the ÖVP it is 35, for the SPÖ 41, for Neos 44 and for the Greens 56 percent, much more.
In the new Styrian state parliament club of the FPÖ, the proportion of women is only six percent: Of the 17 deputies, 16 are men. What is the reason for this? The party has, if you will, a deeply male tradition. A significant part of it comes from fraternities. Thematically and in terms of its approaches, it stands for authority and toughness. While leftists in education, but also politics, according to the American linguist George Lakoff, are more like "nurturing parents" who discuss and interact with each other, Freedom Party members are more like the "strict father" type who determines what should be and bangs on the table when there is opposition.
All of these are explanations for why Freedom Party officials are predominantly male. Added to this is a societal image that tends to have the woman take care of the household and children and leave politics to the man.
Because of all this, it was previously thought that the FPÖ was more likely to be elected by men than by women. For example, in the 2019 National Council election, according to ORF/Foresight survey, 21 percent of men but only 11 percent of women gave their vote to the party. This was the norm at the time.
Things have changed since then. In the last five parliamentary elections in Austria, i.e. in the National Council and EU elections as well as in the state elections in Salzburg, Vorarlberg and Styria, Kickl and Co. have gained overall about twice as much among women as among men. In the National Council election, 28 percent of women and 29 percent of men now voted for the FPÖ, almost the same number.
How is this possible? It is very likely to do with the problems of the present. For example, inflation. It affects women no less than men, and in some cases much more. For single mothers, for example, the financial situation has dramatically worsened. The proportion of those who only just (or hardly) make ends meet has risen by half to over 30 percent, according to Statistics Austria.
This alone would not necessarily mean that a larger proportion of women are drawn to the FPÖ. More comes into play: On the one hand, a crisis of confidence in the ruling parties, i.e. the Türkis and Greens, but also difficulties that the Social Democrats are having with themselves. On the other hand, a mood that is shaped by the fear that everything is going downhill and living conditions are deteriorating. Thesis: Against this background, Kickl can score points with his narrative that, unlike Nehammer, Babler and whoever else, he devotes himself exclusively to the worries and needs of the people, that as a "people's chancellor" he would do nothing else.
Also among women. Through his ascetic lifestyle, which he expresses by staying away from society events, scene bars and big parties, he conveys that he is not like politicians who are generally perceived as such: aloof, clueless about everyday worries etc. Assertion: This enhances his appeal. And it does so regardless of gender.
Johannes Huber runs the blog dieSubstanz.at – Analyses and backgrounds on politics
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.