Up to 50,000 people demonstrated across Austria on Thursday against the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) as it begins coalition talks to form a new government.

Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen has officially tasked the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) with forming a government. Van der Bellen made the announcement at a press conference in Vienna on Monday after a meeting with FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl.

Austria's Freedom Party could lead the country's next government in a historic first, giving far-right politicians more power in the EU.

The Freedom Party won the most votes in national elections in September, but a group of more moderate parties engaged in months-long negotiations to block it from taking power.