(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The conservative Austrian People’s Party (OVP) is the early leader in the European country’s legislative race, according to a poll by OGM. 33 per cent of respondents would vote for the OVP in this year’s election, while 30 per cent would back the Social-Democratic Party of Austria (SPO).

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) is third with 18 per cent, followed by the Greens (Grune) with 14 per cent, and the Alliance for Austria’s Future (BZO) with three per cent.

When asked which party leader they prefer as federal chancellor, 19 per cent of respondents choose the SPO’s Werner Faymann, while 18 per cent select the OVP’s Wilhelm Molterer. Support is lower for Heinz-Christian Strache of the FPO, Alexander Van der Bellen of the Greens, and Peter Westenthaler of the BZO.

In October 2006, Austrian voters renewed the Federal Council. Final results gave the SPO 35.71 per cent of the vote and 68 lawmakers, followed by the OVP with 34.33 per cent and 66 legislators. In January 2007, SPO leader Alfred Gusenbauer was formally sworn in as the country’s new federal chancellor, heading a coalition government encompassing the SPO and the OVP. On Jul. 7, the OVP left the administration, forcing an early ballot.

Also on Jul. 7, Westenthaler said his party’s chances in the upcoming election are "very good", adding that the goal is to "get at least seven per cent of the vote."

The federal election is scheduled for Sept. 28.

Polling Data

Which party would you vote for in the federal election?

Who would you prefer as federal chancellor?

Source: OGM
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 Austrian voters, conducted on Jul. 11, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

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