Austria
The far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), led by Herbert Kickl, won its first-ever victory in National Council elections on September 29. The FPÖ secured 57 of the 183 seats at stake, up 26 from elections in 2019. The ruling conservative Austria People’s Party (ÖVP) of Chancellor Karl Nehammer won 51 seats, down 20 from the previous elections. The Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) won 41 seats; the New Austria (NEOS) party secured 18; and The Greens won 16. Turnout was 77.4 percent.
Czech Republic
Elections for a third of the seats in the 81-seat Senate were held on September 20, with a second-round election eight days later. The right-wing populist opposition party ANO of former prime minister Andrej Babiš won 8 of the 27 seats at stake. The Mayors and Independents (STAN) party won 6 seats; the ruling Civic Democratic Party (ODS) of Prime Minister Petr Fiala retained only 5 of its 10 seats; and smaller parties shared the remainder. Regional elections also took place on September 20, and ANO won 10 of the 13 regions contested. Although the ODS retained the majority in the Senate, the results signal a potential shift in power come the parliamentary elections in October 2025. Turnout was 30.5 percent in the first round, and 17.5 percent in the second.
Tunisia
Incumbent president Kais Saied won a second five-year term in the October 6 presidential election. Preliminary results show Saied winning 90.7 percent of the vote. Only two opposition candidates were allowed to run against the incumbent: Businessman Ayachi Zammel of the Long Live Tunisia party came in second with 7.4 percent, despite being jailed for most of the campaign and sentenced to twelve years in prison for election-related crimes just five days before the vote. Lawmaker Zouhair Maghzaoui of the People’s Movement received 2 percent. The campaign period saw the arrests of Tunisia’s most prominent opposition politicians as well as activists, journalists, and attorneys. Opposition parties boycotted the “sham” election, and turnout was low at 28.8 percent. Read more about the election in Nate Grubman’s new essay.