Election Date: September 28, 2008

Abstract: At stake: National Council

At stake: National Council

Background

Austria was once part of the Hapsburg Empire, and became a partner in the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the 19th Century. In 1920, a new constitution created the Republic of Austria.

In 1938, Nazi Germany annexed Austria. Soviet troops would liberate Vienna in 1945, and Austria was occupied by soldiers from the Soviet Union, Britain, the United States and France.

In 1955, the State Treaty established Austria as an "independent but neutral" state, and the country joined the United Nations (UN). In 1986, Kurt Waldheim became Austria’s president. The candidacy of Waldheim—a former UN secretary-general—provoked worldwide debate over his role in the German armed forces during World War II.

In 1994, voters endorsed Austria’s accession into the European Union (EU). In October 1999, the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) saw substantial gains in the legislative vote and became part of a governing coalition with the Austrian People’s Party (OVP). The FPO’s anti-immigration agenda eventually led to diplomatic sanctions by the EU.

Wolfgang Schuessel of the OVP became federal chancellor in February 2000. In the November 2002 parliamentary ballot, the OVP elected 79 lawmakers to the 183-seat National Council and formed a coalition government with the FPO after talks with the Social-Democratic Party of Austria (SPO) and Greens (Grune) broke down.

In April 2004, SPO member Heinz Fischer won the presidential election with 52.41 per cent of the vote in a contest against Benita Ferrero-Waldner of the OVP. The president is conventionally regarded as a ceremonial dignitary in the European country.

Click here for Austria 2004 Presidential Election Tracker

In April 2005, former FPO leader Joerg Haider assembled the Alliance for Austria’s Future (BZO), which effectively took the Freedom Party’s place in the governing coalition.

In the 2006 legislative election, the SPO finished in first place with 35.71 per cent of the vote and 68 lawmakers, followed by the governing OVP with 34.33 per cent and 66 legislators. SPO leader Alfred Gusenbauer was asked to form the next government. The negotiations for the composition of the new administration went on for weeks.

In January 2007, Gusenbauer was formally sworn in as the country’s new federal chancellor, heading a "grand coalition" government encompassing the SPO and the OVP. The last SPO member to hold the position was Viktor Klima from January 1997 to February 2000.

Click here for Austria 2006 National Council Election Tracker

In June 2007, the National Council approved a proposal to lower the voting age in Austria to 16 years.

For the entire year of 2007, lawmakers paid little attention to policy making. SPO members engaged in bitter disputes over Gusenbauer’s ability to continue at the helm of the party. Gusenbauer had failed to deliver on his promise to scrap university tuition fees, prompting student protests and criticism by both the opposition and members of his own SPO party.

2008 National Council Election

On Jun. 9, 2008, transport minister Werner Faymann was named acting leader of the Social-Democratic Party of Austria (SPO). The change was the result of months of conflict within the party, stirred by questions over Gusenbauer’s ability.

On Jun. 16, Faymann replaced Gusenbauer as SPO leader. The prime minister accepted to step down as party chairman, but not as head of government.

In late June, Gusenbauer sent a letter to a major newspaper saying that future changes to the so-called Lisbon Treaty should be put to a popular vote in Austria. Austria has already ratified the new proposed European Union (EU) common body of law via the National Council. The prime minister’s comments came after the accord was rejected by voters in Ireland.

On Jul. 7, the conservative Austrian People’s Party (OVP) left the governing "grand coalition". Since last year, both parties had been incapable of reaching agreements on several issues, including health care reform, pensions and taxes. Gusenbauer’s stand on the Lisbon Treaty was considered as the trigger for the OVP’s departure. OVP members called the proposal to hold a referendum on changes to the Lisbon Treaty "populist" and "opportunistic".

OVP leader and finance minister Wilhelm Molterer declared: "Enough is enough. (….) Good work is no longer possible in this government. The SPO is leaderless, directionless and has departed (…)from the common European perspective for our country. (…) I therefore recommend immediate, prompt new elections."

A snap general election was called for Sept. 28. Austria was not supposed to hold a legislative ballot until 2010.

Gusenbauer has announced that he will not seek a new term as federal chancellor. Faymann will be SPO’s candidate.

The Greens (Grune) will be commanded by long-time leader Alexander Van der Bellen. The environmentalist party is regarded as an ideal coalition partner for the SPO, but has not ruled out working with the OVP.

Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) leader Heinz-Christian Strache has expressed disappointment with the early election, and called on the former "grand coalition" partners to bear the administrative costs of the democratic process.

The Alliance for Austria’s Future (BZO) is facing a difficult time, as leader Peter Westenthaler is under investigation for both providing false testimony in a 2006 case, and for slightly injuring a policeman with his car earlier this year.

Aside from these parties, the list of contending political organizations includes the Communist Party of Austria (KPO), the Citizens’ Forum (BF) of former OVP member Fritz Dinkhauser, and the Liberal Forum (LIF).

On Jul. 7, Westenthaler said the BZO’s chances in the upcoming election are “very good”, adding that the goal is to “get at least seven per cent of the vote.”

On Jul. 22, Thomas Hofer, a political analyst, talked about the rising popularity of the ultra-nationalist FPO—led by Heinz-Christian Strache—saying, “Hostility to Europe has become a potent force in Austrian politics. Strache’s party is reaping the fruits of the major parties’ inability to convey the advantages of [European Union] membership and eastern enlargement to voters.”

On Jul. 28, Dinkhauser officially presented the BF list, and promised to wage a “decent and independent” campaign. Dinkhauser’s list received 18.3 per cent of the vote and secured seven seats in Tyrol’s provincial election.

On Jul. 29, BZO leader Westenthaler was convicted for lying when offering testimony related to a pub brawl involving his former bodyguard and the spokesman of a party member. Westenthaler was given a nine-month suspended sentence, and his lawyer appealed the decision.

Westenthaler—who will not be the BZO’s main candidate in the federal election—denounced the decision as “a political verdict,” adding, “Everyone who witnessed the trial has to come to that conclusion.”

On Aug. 8, SPO members officially anointed Faymann as their candidate for federal chancellor, effectively ending Gusenbauer’s eight-year tenure. Faymann served as transport minister and had been the acting SPO leader since June.

As part of his electoral platform, Faymann has promised almost $3 billion U.S. in tax cuts and slashing taxes on staple foods by one half. In his acceptance speech, the SPO leader declared: “The social democratic model of a just and fair society with equal opportunities is as valid as it has been in the past.”

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.”

Austrians aged 16 to 18 will be allowed to vote for the first time in a federal election. On Aug. 27, the government launched a campaign hoping to lure this group to cast a ballot. Austrian youth minister Andrea Kdolsky commented on the campaign, saying, “Not many countries show much confidence in 16-year-olds. We’ve decided to prove to them that they can participate in democracy in their country and that it’s something that concerns their future.”

In late August, OVP member Hermann Schuetzenhoefer urged voters to stay away from the SPO, saying, “We have to make clear to people that Faymann is nothing more than a hot air acrobat. He would even sell his own grandmother to win the elections. All one can do is turn away.”

The FPO has been criticized for its anti-immigrant policies. In early September, FPO leader Strache accused the SPO of favouring immigrants over native Austrians in the allocation of social housing, saying, “If you want an apartment, all you need is to be wearing a headscarf.”

On Sept. 24, Faymann decided not to attend a televised debate, apparently due to a scheduling conflict. Molterer criticized his rival, saying, “I always thought FF stands for voluntary firefighters. Now I know it stands for Faymann is absent.”

Voting took place on Sept. 28. Preliminary results suggested that the SPO would finish in first place, closely followed by both the OVP and the FPO. OVP leader Molterer described his party’s showing as “a painful and dramatic defeat.”

Faymann, who may get the first chance at forming a new government, stated, “I promise what we said before the vote is still valid after the vote. (...) Positive work as was shown in parliament shortly before the vote, with concrete decisions, is the way of the future, instead of quarrelling.”

On Sept. 30, the OVP named Josef Proell as its new leader, supplanting Molterer. Proell worked as agriculture minister in the outgoing government.

Final results released on Oct. 6 gave the SPO 57 seats, followed by the OVP with 51 mandates. The FPO saw its presence in the legislature increase to 34 legislators, prompting party leader Heinz-Christian Strache to suggest “interest” in becoming chancellor.

Turnout was tabled at 78.8 per cent.

On Oct. 8, Austrian president Heinz Fischer asked the SPO to assemble a government. SPO leader Faymann said he expected a coalition deal to be ready “by the Christmas holiday.”

Political Players

Federal President: Heinz Fischer - SPO
Federal Chancellor: Alfred Gusenbauer - SPO

The president is elected to a six-year term by the people.

Legislative Branch: The Parlament (Parliament) has two chambers. The Nationalrat (National Council) has 183 members, elected to four-year terms by proportional representation. The Bundesrat (Federal Council) has 64 members, chosen to serve four to six-year terms by the provincial legislatures.

Results of Last Election:

President - Apr. 25, 2004

	Vote%
Heinz Fischer - Social-Democratic Party of Austria (SPO)	52.41%
Benita Ferrero-Waldner - Austrian People’s Party (OVP)	47.59%

National Council - Sept. 28, 2008

	Vote%	Seats
Social-Democratic Party of Austria (SPO)	29.26%	57
Austrian People’s Party (OVP)	25.98%	51
Freedom Party of Austria (FPO)	17.54%	34
Alliance for Austria’s Future (BZO)	10.70%	21
The Greens (Grune)	10.43%	20
Liberal Forum (LF)	2.09%	--
Citizens Forum (BF)	1.76%	--
Communist Party of Austria (KPO)	0.76%	--
Independent Citizens’ Initiative Save Austria (UBRO)	0.73%	--
The Christians (DC)	0.64%	--
Animal Rights Party (Tierrechtsparteie)	0.05%	--
Left (Linke)	0.04%	--
Dipl.-Ing. Karlheinz Klement	0.01%	--
List Strong (LS)	0.00%	--

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