Herbert Kickl, the leader of Austria’s Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ), is positioning himself as a contender for the role of ‘Volkskanzler’ or ‘people’s chancellor.’ Since taking over in 2021, Kickl has steered the party further to the right, aligning it with extremist movements. He advocates for strict immigration policies, including the deportation of illegal immigrants and a transformation of Austria into a fortified nation. Despite his strained relationships with the conservative ÖVP, political analysts suggest the FPÖ could perform even better in future elections.