We’d like you to share your thoughts on the far-right party joining the country’s coalition government

The far-right Freedom party is joining Austria's government. How do you feel?

Austria has become the only western European state with a far-right presence in government after its president approved a controversial coalition deal.

Alexander Van der Bellen rubber-stamped the alliance between the conservative People’s party and Heinz-Christian Strache’s far-right Freedom party on Saturday.

Thousands protest as far-right ministers enter government in Austria Read more

A previous coalition between chancellor Christian Kern’s Social Democrats and the People’s party collapsed in May, which resulted in a snap election. The latter won, but fell short of a majority.

It is not the first time the Freedom party has been in government. It was part of a coalition government between 2000 and 2005. There was uproar at the time among EU leaders, and bilateral diplomatic relations were frozen in protest. Strache has moved to clean up the party’s image by suspending members for antisemitic behaviour, including a local councillor for a Nazi salute in October.

Protesters have already taken to the streets to voice their anger over the deal, with nine separate marches have been organised in Vienna for Monday morning, with police estimating about 5,000 protesters will march in the capital.

Take part

We’d like you to share your thoughts on the move. Should they be allowed to join the coalition? And what are your hopes and fear for the future of the country?

You can fill in the encrypted form below and we’ll feature a selection of responses in our reporting.