Everyone went truly wild when 39-year-old Emmanual Macron became the President of France. So young! So energetic! Finally, we’re inching closer to a world where millennials are in charge. Booyeah!
Well, he’s been beaten out. The new youngest head of government looks like it will be 31-year-old Sebastian Kurz, leader of the right-wing People’s Party in Austria. If you’re thinking that a younger leader equals a more progressive government, you’d be wrong – Kurz managed to propel himself ahead in the polls by aligning with the far-right Freedom Party on immigration. So that’s, uh, concerning.
If #Kurz wins election he’ll make 39 year old #Macron look like senior citizen of EU. Kurz is only 31 years old. #AustriaElection pic.twitter.com/F60tNFmpaf
— Maximilian Hofmann (@maxhofmann) October 15, 2017
He and his party claimed the win on Sunday night after projections gave them a comfortable lead, but it seems like he’ll need to form a coalition as he does not have an outright majority. That coalition will likely be with the Freedom Party, which is a serious concern given the rise of right-wing populism across Europe.
During the campaign, he pledged to harshly curb immigration and curtail benefits to refugees living in Austria. Truly some great representation from our first millennial world leader. Hoo boy.
“I am truly overwhelmed,” Kurz told supporters at an election party. “We made the impossible possible. Thank you very much for your commitment and this historic success.”
“It is time for change in this country. Today is a strong order for us, to change this country, and I say thank you to you all who made this possible.”
There’s no official word yet on the alleged alliance with the Freedom Party, but it’s almost certain – there’s no way they’ll be in coalition with the centre-left Social Democratic Party as they have in the past.
Welp. Maybe the next young world leader will be a good one.
