(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The Austrian People’s Party (OVP) remains the most popular political organization in the country, according to a poll by OGM. 31 per cent of respondents would vote for the conservative party in the next federal election, up one point since late July.

The Social-Democratic Party of Austria (SPO) is second with 26 per cent, followed by the Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) with 17 per cent, and the Greens (Grune) with 13 per cent. Support is lower for the Alliance for Austria’s Future (BZO), the Citizens’ Forum (BF), and the Liberal Forum (LIF).

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. The federal election is scheduled for Sept. 28. The OVP is headed by finance minister Wilhelm Molterer, while the SPO has anointed transport minister Werner Faymann as its leader.

On Aug. 12, the government approved the privatization of Austrian Airlines, the country’s main carrier. Molterer referred to the decision, saying, "This is a full privatization of Austrian Airlines while making sure that there is an Austrian core shareholder who will keep the vetoing minority of 25 per cent."

Polling Data

Which party would you vote for in the federal election?

Source: OGM
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 503 Austrian voters, conducted on Aug. 18, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

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