This was the first time that a far-right party won the most seats in a legislative election in Austria after World War II.

The centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) won just 21.1%, marking its worst result ever in terms of percentages and the place occupied (3rd), but it gained one seat compared to the previous election.

He was replaced by parliamentary group leader Herbert Kickl, whose dismissal as interior minister caused the collapse of the ÖVP–FPÖ government in 2019.

[9][10] On 2 December, Kurz announced he would resign from all offices and retire from politics, citing a desire to focus on his family after becoming a father.

[11] On 3 December, Interior Minister Karl Nehammer was unanimously appointed as leader of the ÖVP by the federal party committee and proposed as Chancellor.

[citation needed] After a series of corruption scandals involving the ÖVP and rising inflation – such as skyrocketing housing, electricity, fuel and grocery prices – the government parties lost considerable support in 4 subsequent state elections in Tyrol, Lower Austria, Carinthia and Salzburg.

However, two days later the SPÖ announced that the results had been mixed up in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and that Babler was the actual winner with 53%, thus becoming the new party chairman.

[16] The weakness of both the government parties and the SPÖ has allowed the far-right, populist opposition party FPÖ to top the polls during 2023, positioning it to win an Austrian legislative election for the first time, even though it has previously been involved in the Ibiza affair scandal which caused the 2019 governing coalition to resign.

[citation needed] On 18 October 2023, former chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) was charged in federal court for allegedly making false statements to a parliamentary investigation committee.

[citation needed] On 11 November 2023, the new SPÖ leader Andreas Babler was confirmed at a party convention in Graz by 89 percent of voting delegates.

[22] Following the elections, seats are allocated to the candidates of successful parties and lists in a three-stage process, starting with the regional constituencies.

Among the reforms were the introduction of an early voting period, beginning three weeks before election day, during which voters can request absentee ballots in every municipality.

[citation needed] Electoral authorities all over Austria issued a total of 1,436,240 absentee ballots by 27 September 2024, the last day to request one.

[citation needed] Especially after the 2024 Vienna terrorism plot in early August 2024, in which the Islamic State unsuccessfully tried to target concerts of the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, the campaigning shifted heavily towards security and policing issues, how to tackle political and extremist Islam in Austria and on immigration and the integration of (primarily Muslim) immigrants in Austria.

In response, Karl Nehammer reiterated that the ÖVP would not enter into a coalition with the FPÖ unless Kickl was excluded from a ministerial position.

[46][47] Nehammer also said he was "bitter" over the ÖVP failing to win but acknowledged his role in improving the party's showing following low opinion ratings.

[34] The leaders of far-right parties across Europe, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán,[48] Marine Le Pen of the National Rally in France,[49] Matteo Salvini of the League in Italy,[50] Santiago Abascal of Vox in Spain,[51] Geert Wilders of the Party for Freedom in the Netherlands, and Alice Weidel of the Alternative for Germany, sent congratulations to Kickl and the FPÖ.

[34] In the first poll after the election, Market-Lazarsfeld for Ö24 found that the FPÖ was supported by 30%, the ÖVP by 25%, the SPÖ by 20%, NEOS by 11%, the Green Party by 8%, and others by 6% of voters.

[53] President Alexander Van der Bellen pledged to ensure the formation of a government that respects the "foundations of our liberal democracy".

[56] On 2 October, the outgoing ÖVP-Green government tendered its resignation, although it was asked to stay on in a caretaker role by Van der Bellen.

[57] Nehammer and other ÖVP governors expressed support for the FPÖ receiving the first mandate to form a government, citing a wish to preserve the convention.

On the other hand, Kickl called Nehammer "an offended and aggrieved sore loser, whose main goal is to continue clinging to power, but without the interests of the country and voters in mind.

[62] Van der Bellen said that it was clear that Kickl "would not be able to find a coalition partner who would make him Chancellor," while Kickl criticised Van der Bellen for breaking with the "tried and tested normal processes" of asking the leading party in the election to form a government and pledged, "Today is not the end of the story.

An ÖVP–SPÖ coalition would only have a majority of one seat in the National Council, which would be impractical for daily government work, as any member would have the power to block proceedings.

[66] On 3 January 2025, various Austrian media outlets reported that NEOS had withdrawn from coalition talks, leaving it unclear how government negotiations would move forward.

[67] On 4 January, after consultations with President Van der Bellen, ÖVP and SPÖ continued coalition talks without any other party.

[69] Nehammer was replaced by Christian Stocker as interim ÖVP leader the same day, and his resignation as chancellor took effect on 10 January.

[70] On 6 January, President Van der Bellen formally tasked FPÖ leader Kickl to form a government.

On 12 February 2025, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl announced after a meeting with President Alexander Van der Bellen in Vienna that the negotiations had failed.

[73] On 22 February, after a week of exploration talks, the three parties informed President Van der Bellen that they will try to create a joint government again.