The populist Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) look set to play kingmaker in a new coalition government.
One of Europe’s most established nationalist parties, the FPO is forecast to come second or third in the election this weekend and could become junior coalition partners in government.
The centre-right Austrian People’s Party (OVP) is leading the latest poll from Research Affairs/Osterreich with 33 per cent of the vote.
But they will need the support of the FPO – currently polling in second place with 27 per cent – in order to govern.
And such a result will be seen as marking an increasing trend in Europe, after anti-immigraton party Alternative for Germany (AfD) party gained enough votes to enter the German Bundestag for the first time last month.
Founded in 1956, the FPO emerged from the short-lived Federation of Independents, launched after World War II by former Nazis who had been stripped of their voting rights.
And over the years, FPO has had varied success.
But now Heinz-Christian Strache and his party are on course to hold the balance of power ahead of elections this weekend.
Analysts predict that the OVP is far more likely to form a coalition with the Freedom Party than the governing Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO).
Greg Fuzesi, an economist at JPMorgan, said: “It looks as if the far-right Freedom Party is heading back into government.
“This raises questions about Austria’s attitude towards the EU. We note that the FPO has moderated its tone significantly, even though it has sympathised with euro-sceptic parties elsewhere.”
The SPO is trailing the poll with 23 per cent and Chancellor Christian Kern seems resigned to serving as leader of the opposition.
Mr Kern said: “For me this is quite clear, if we come first, then I will remain chancellor. If not, then the opposition role will fall to us.”
Austria votes on Sunday, October 15 – a full year earlier than planned.
The current legislature was due to sit until 2018, but a snap election was called after the coalition government descended into infighting after nine years of ruling together.