Austria's Grip On Europe: Politics & Control

Austria's political history is closely intertwined with that of the Habsburgs, who ruled the country from the late 13th century to the end of World War I. During this period, Austria was a major power in Central Europe and, from the 16th century onwards, Vienna served as the administrative capital of the Holy Roman Empire.

In the 19th century, the Austrian Empire was a key player in the Concert of Europe, which aimed to maintain the balance of power on the continent following the Napoleonic Wars. However, the rise of nationalism and the growing desire for self-determination among the various ethnic groups within the empire posed a significant challenge to Austrian dominance in European politics.

The Austrian Empire was dissolved following its defeat in World War I, and the Republic of German-Austria was established in 1918. However, this short-lived republic was forbidden from uniting with Germany and was instead reduced to a rump state comprising mostly German-speaking areas.

During the interwar period, Austria experienced political instability, with the rise of Austrofascism under Engelbert Dollfuss in 1934 and the annexation of the country into Nazi Germany by Adolf Hitler in 1938.

After World War II, Austria regained its independence and declared its perpetual neutrality in 1955. The country has since played a more neutral role in European politics, although it joined the European Union in 1995.

Austria's involvement in international organisations

Austria has been a member of the European Union since 1995, and its capital, Vienna, is home to many international organisations. Vienna is one of the most important headquarters of International Organisations (IO) in the world, emerging as a hub for the promotion of peace, security, sustainable development, disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. It is also a centre for the fight against crime, drug abuse and terrorism.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to coordinating its member countries' oil-producing policies, has been based in Vienna since 1965. The OPEC Fund for International Development, established by OPEC member countries, is also based in the city and seeks to contribute to the development of Third World countries by offering loans and grants to non-OPEC developing countries and international development agencies.

The European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia was established in Vienna in 1998 and was later transformed into the European Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), which provides the European Union and its member states with objective and comparable information on racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic phenomena.

Additionally, Vienna hosts three offices of the World Bank Group, a regional office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), which was established upon the initiative of Austria and Switzerland in 1993.

Austria's involvement in these and other international organisations demonstrates its commitment to European politics and its role as a platform for international dialogue.

The country's coalition governments

Austria's Coalition Governments

Overview

Austria's politics are characterised by competition between multiple parties, which has led to coalition governments being formed on several occasions. Since World War II, Austria has enjoyed political stability, with a mix of conservative and social democratic parties dominating politics and public life for decades.

Post-War Coalition Governments

In the aftermath of World War II, a three-party coalition government consisting of the conservative People's Party (ÖVP), the Socialists, and the Communists ruled Austria until 1947. From 1947 onwards, a coalition between the ÖVP and the Socialists governed the country until 1966. After the ÖVP won an absolute majority in 1966, they ruled alone for four years.

1970s and 1980s

In the 1970s, the political landscape shifted as the SPÖ became the strongest party, winning an absolute majority under the leadership of Bruno Kreisky. Between 1971 and 1999, the SPÖ ruled the country either alone or in coalition with the ÖVP, except for a brief period from 1983 to 1986 when they governed with the Freedom Party. This coalition ended when the right-wing politician Jörg Haider became the leader of the Freedom Party.

1990s and Early 2000s

After the 1999 election, despite coming in third place, the ÖVP formed a controversial coalition with the right-wing populist Freedom Party (FPÖ) in 2000. This led to diplomatic sanctions being imposed on Austria by 14 EU member states, as there were concerns about the FPÖ's impact on Austria's democratic principles and values. This coalition ended in 2002 due to internal disputes within the FPÖ, and the ÖVP called for snap elections.

2010s and 2020s

In 2017, the FPÖ returned to government, this time in coalition with the ÖVP, controlling six ministries, including defence, interior, and foreign affairs. However, this coalition fell apart in 2019 due to a scandal involving the FPÖ leader, known as the "Ibiza affair".

In 2020, a new coalition was formed between the ÖVP, now led by Sebastian Kurz, and the Greens, marking the first time the Greens gained power in Austria. This coalition resulted in Austria's first female-majority cabinet, sworn in by President Alexander Van der Bellen.

Recent Developments

In 2021, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz resigned due to a corruption scandal, and he was replaced by Karl Nehammer of the ÖVP. The most recent coalition, formed in 2022, is also between the ÖVP and the Greens, continuing their partnership.

Austria's coalition governments have often involved the ÖVP, reflecting their strong presence in Austrian politics. The country's coalition dynamics have shifted over time, influenced by the rise of new parties and changes in voter preferences.

The Freedom Party's influence

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) is a far-right, right-wing populist, national-conservative, eurosceptic and russophile political party. It is the largest of five parties in the National Council, with 57 of the 183 seats, and won 28.85% of the votes cast in the 2024 election. It is represented in all nine state legislatures.

The FPÖ was founded in 1956 as the successor to the Federation of Independents (VdU), representing pan-Germanists and national liberals opposed to socialism and Catholic clericalism. Its first leader, Anton Reinthaller, was a former Nazi functionary and SS officer, but the FPÖ did not advocate far-right policies and presented itself as a centrist party.

Under the leadership of Norbert Steger in the early 1980s, the FPÖ sought to style itself on Germany's Free Democratic Party (FDP). The FPÖ gave external support to SPÖ chancellor Bruno Kreisky after the 1970 election and joined Fred Sinowatz's government as the SPÖ's junior partner after the 1983 election.

Jörg Haider became leader of the party in 1986, after which it began an ideological turn towards right-wing populism. This resulted in a strong surge in electoral support but also led the SPÖ to break ties and a splinter in the form of the Liberal Forum in 1993. In the 1999 election, the FPÖ won 26.9% of the vote, becoming the second most popular party, ahead of the ÖVP by around 500 votes. The two parties eventually reached a coalition agreement in which the ÖVP retained the office of chancellor.

The FPÖ soon lost most of its popularity, falling to 10% in the 2002 election, but remained in government as a junior partner. Internal tensions led Haider and much of the party leadership to leave in 2005, forming the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ). Heinz-Christian Strache then became leader, and the party gradually regained its popularity, peaking at 26.0% in the 2017 election.

In May 2019, the Ibiza affair led to the collapse of the government and the resignation of Strache from both the offices of vice-chancellor and party leader. The resulting snap election saw the FPÖ fall to 16.2% and return to opposition.

In September 2024, the FPÖ, led by Herbert Kickl, won 29% of the vote, its best result to date. Under Kickl's leadership, the party supported lifting sanctions imposed against Russia and opposed providing Ukraine with military aid, arguing that Austria's policy of neutrality should be preserved.

The FPÖ's gains at the legislative level have been described as "worrying" by analyst Andreas Umland, who noted that there are now three neighbouring countries—Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia—where a Ukraine-skeptic party has become the largest political force. These parties could be characterised as "pro-Russian, either ideologically or strategically".

The FPÖ has long presented itself as the political force that will ensure Austria's "neutrality" in the face of threats to global security. FPÖ lawmakers left the Austrian parliament building in March 2023 when President Volodymyr Zelensky came to give a speech, showing signs advocating for "peace" and "neutrality".

Despite the FPÖ's success in the 2024 election, it is unlikely to form a government as mainstream Austrian party leaders have signalled their opposition to working with the party.

Euroscepticism and EU membership

Euroscepticism is a political position that involves criticism of the European Union (EU) and European integration. It ranges from those who oppose some EU institutions and policies and seek reform, to those who oppose EU membership and see the EU as unreformable. Euroscepticism is found in groups across the political spectrum, and is often found in populist parties.

Austria's Freedom Party (FPÖ) is a right-wing populist party that is Eurosceptic. It was founded in 1955 as a successor to the Federation of Independents. The FPÖ steadily gained support after Jörg Haider took over leadership of the party in 1986, until it attracted about 27% of the vote in the 1999 elections. The FPÖ became the junior partner in a government led by the ÖVP under Sebastian Kurz as Chancellor in 2017, but the government was ousted through a vote of no confidence as a result of a political scandal involving the FPÖ's leader, dubbed the Ibiza affair. The FPÖ suffered punishing losses in subsequent federal and state elections.

The FPÖ's Euroscepticism is rooted in its nationalist rhetoric, which targets Muslims, immigrants, and the European Union. The party has been involved in state governments across Austria, and was part of the federal government from 2017 to 2019.

The FPÖ's stance on the EU has been a factor in Austria's relations with other EU member states. In 2000, 14 EU member states imposed diplomatic measures on Austria in response to a federal government coalition with the FPÖ. These measures were widely regarded as unjustified by Austrian public opinion and were lifted after seven months.

Despite the FPÖ's Euroscepticism, a broad and stable majority of Austrians are in favour of EU membership. Since 1995, 54 Austria-wide opinion surveys have shown that an average of 70% of respondents want Austria to stay in the EU, while 23% would prefer to leave. The highest support for EU membership was recorded in June/July 2002 (80%), and the strongest support for leaving the EU was recorded in June/July 2008 (33%).

The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) have traditionally dominated Austrian politics. The ÖVP is centre-right and the SPÖ is centre-left. Both parties are pro-European and have governed Austria in various coalitions since World War II.

In recent years, newer parties such as the Greens and the NEOS have gained support. The Greens are a left-liberal party focusing on environmental and social justice issues, while the NEOS is a classic-centre liberal party. Neither party is Eurosceptic.

In summary, while Austria has a prominent Eurosceptic party in the FPÖ, a broad and stable majority of Austrians are in favour of EU membership. The FPÖ has influenced Austria's relations with other EU member states, but its stance on the EU has not led to widespread Euroscepticism among Austrians. The traditional parties, the ÖVP and the SPÖ, are pro-European, and newer parties such as the Greens and the NEOS are also not Eurosceptic.

Austria's position in the EU Council

Austria's position in the Council of the EU

Austria has been a member of the European Union since 1 January 1995. As a member state, Austria has 20 representatives in the European Parliament and 12 representatives on the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions.

Austria has held the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU in 1998, 2006, and 2018. During these periods, Austrian ministers chaired and helped determine the agenda of Council meetings in different policy areas, and facilitated dialogue with other EU institutions.

Austria's relationship with the EU was strained in 2000 when 14 EU member states imposed diplomatic measures in response to Austria's coalition government with the right-wing Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ). This cast a shadow over Austria's relationship with its EU partners, and raised concerns regarding national sovereignty.

Despite Euroscepticism and discontent with the functioning of the EU among Austrians, a broad and stable majority are in favour of EU membership. Austrians recognise the benefits of belonging to the Union, particularly in uncertain times, where a medium-sized, export-driven country like Austria benefits from being at the centre of European integration.

Austria's position in the Council of the EU is influenced by its federal semi-presidential republic form of government, with a chancellor as the head of government and a president as the head of state. While the chancellor has no power to direct other members of the government, both local and federal governments exercise executive power.

In the Council of the EU, Austrian national ministers meet regularly with representatives from other member states to adopt EU laws and coordinate policies. Austrian government representatives attend Council meetings several times a year, focusing on their specific areas of responsibility.

Austria's position in the Council of the EU is also shaped by its participation in other international organisations, such as the United Nations, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Vienna, Austria's capital, is home to many international organisations, reflecting the country's enduring legacy of neutrality after World War II.

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