Austria's Political Landscape: Liberal Or Not?

Austria is a democratic republic with a history of grand coalition governments of left and right-wing parties. The country has five main political parties in its parliament, including the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), the liberal New Austria and Liberal Forum (NEOS), the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), and the Austrian Greens. The country's current government is a Conservative-Green coalition, marking the first time a former Green Party leader has been elected to the presidency.

Austria has been described as a liberal country, but this depends on the variant of liberalism being referred to. In comparison to Eastern Europe or Russia, Austria is fairly liberal, but compared to Scandinavia, it is conservative. The country has a well-developed social market economy and is ranked 16th on the Economist Intelligence Unit's annual Democracy Index.

Austria's political landscape

Political Parties

Austria has a multi-party system with several prominent political parties representing different ideological positions. The main political parties in the Austrian Parliament include:

• The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP): The ÖVP is a conservative party that combines various social and economic groups, including workers, farmers, employers, and senior citizens. It has been one of the two major political forces in Austria and is known for its anti-immigration stance.
• The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ): The SPÖ has evolved from a democratic Marxist doctrine to a less ideological approach, focusing on social problems, economic equality, and a pro-European stance. It has broadened its appeal beyond the working class to include the middle classes.
• The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ): The FPÖ is a far-right, national-conservative, and soft eurosceptic party. It has roots in pan-German nationalism and has often employed anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric. The party has faced controversy due to its connections with Nazism and has been accused of right-wing extremism.
• The Austrian Greens (Die Grünen): The Greens are two environmentalist parties that banded together, advocating for ecological issues, direct democracy, feminism, and minority rights.
• NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum: NEOS is a liberal party founded in 2012 and is the smallest party in the National Council.

Electoral System and Voting

Austria has a democratic electoral system with a voting age of 16. The Austrian Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the National Council (183 members) and the Federal Council (61 members). Elections in the National Council are held every five years through open party lists, with nine multi-member constituencies representing each state. The voting process follows the principles of universality, equality, directness, secrecy, and personality.

Political History

Austria's political history has been marked by periods of coalition governments and ideological shifts. Since 1945, the country has had a stable model of democracy, known as the Second Republic. Here are some key moments:

• 1945-1966: The two major parties, ÖVP and SPÖ, ruled through a "grand coalition."
• 1980s: The Freedom Party (FPÖ) gained popularity and joined a coalition government with the SPÖ.
• Late 1980s: Environmental concerns grew, and the Austrian Greens made significant progress.
• 1995: Austria joined the European Union.
• 1999: The FPÖ, led by Joerg Haider, won 27% of the vote in national elections.
• 2000: The People's Party (ÖVP) formed a coalition with the FPÖ, leading to international outcry and EU sanctions.
• 2017: The ÖVP-FPÖ coalition collapsed due to the "Ibiza affair," leading to a surge in support for the Austrian Greens.
• 2024: The FPÖ secured approximately 29.2% of the vote, but other parties refused to form a coalition due to concerns over its far-right positions.

Current Political Tensions

Austria is currently experiencing political tensions due to recent electoral outcomes and ideological differences. The far-right FPÖ's rise has caused unease among centrist parties, leading to complex coalition negotiations. Immigration, neutrality, and relations with Russia are among the most contentious issues in Austrian politics today.

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ)

The FPÖ was founded in 1956 as the successor to the Federation of Independents (VdU), representing pan-Germanists and national liberals who opposed socialism and Catholic clericalism. Its first leader, Anton Reinthaller, was a former Nazi functionary and SS officer. Despite its roots, the party initially presented itself as a centrist party, attracting many former Nazis with its philosophy that Austrians should identify as part of a greater German cultural community. The party had liberal and nationalist wings, which often clashed over strategy.

In the early years, the FPÖ was a minor opposition party in parliament, with its vote share stagnating between 5.0% and 7.7% between 1956 and 1983. However, under the leadership of Norbert Steger in the 1980s, the party sought to reposition itself as a moderate centrist liberal party modelled after Germany's Free Democratic Party (FDP). During this period, the FPÖ gave external support to the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) and joined the SPÖ-led government as a junior partner in 1983.

In 1986, Jörg Haider became the leader of the FPÖ, marking a significant ideological shift towards right-wing populism. This change resulted in a surge in electoral support but also led to a split in the party, with the liberal wing breaking away to form the Liberal Forum in 1993. Haider's controversial remarks and his focus on immigration and Austrian nationalism contributed to the party's increasing popularity, especially in provincial elections.

In the 1999 election, the FPÖ became the second-most popular party, winning 26.9% of the vote. They formed a coalition government with the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) but soon lost popularity, falling to 10% in the 2002 election. Internal tensions led to Haider's departure in 2005, and Heinz-Christian Strache became the new leader. The party gradually regained its support, peaking at 26.0% in the 2017 election and once again joining a coalition government with the ÖVP.

In May 2019, the so-called "Ibiza affair" led to the collapse of the FPÖ-ÖVP coalition and Strache's resignation. Norbert Hofer replaced Strache as party leader in September 2019, but he too resigned in June 2021. This paved the way for Herbert Kickl's leadership, under which the party has embraced far-right ideologies and white nationalist sentiments more explicitly.

The FPÖ's recent success in the 2024 Austrian legislative elections, where it won 29.2% of the vote, marks a significant shift in Austrian politics. It is the first time a far-right or ethnonationalist party has won the most seats in a legislative election since World War II. The FPÖ's growing influence underscores the normalisation of the far-right in Europe and the increasing appeal of illiberal, authoritarian agendas.

The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP)

The ÖVP was founded in 1945 as an unofficial successor to the Christian Social Party of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Since then, it has been one of the two traditional major parties in Austria, alongside the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ). The party underwent a change in its image after Sebastian Kurz became chairman, changing its colour from black to turquoise, and adopting the alternate name, The New People's Party.

The ÖVP is described as a centre-right party and has been characterised as a catch-all party of the centre-right. It has been described as Christian-democratic, conservative, and liberal-conservative. The party has also been associated with Catholic and anti-socialist ideologies, with a focus on subsidiarity and decentralisation.

In recent years, the ÖVP has shifted towards right-wing policies, including a crackdown on illegal immigration and a fight against political Islam. This shift has made the party more similar to the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), with which the ÖVP formed a coalition government in 2017. However, this coalition collapsed after 18 months, leading to the 2019 election, after which the ÖVP formed a new coalition with The Greens.

The ÖVP has a strong presence in Austrian politics, consistently holding the most or second-most seats in the Federal Assembly. It has led or been a partner in most Austrian federal cabinets since its establishment. The party has governed alone or in coalition with the SPÖ for much of its history, but has also formed coalitions with other parties, including the FPÖ and the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ).

Overall, the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) is a major political force in Austria, with a conservative, Christian-democratic, and liberal-conservative ideology. It has played a significant role in shaping the country's politics and governance since its founding in 1945.

The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ)

The SPÖ has played a significant role in Austrian politics, often as one of the main political forces in the country. At the start of World War I, the party was the strongest in parliament, and its leader, Karl Renner, became chancellor of the First Republic after the war in 1918. However, the party lost power in 1920 and faced increasing political violence, ultimately leading to its banning under the Austrofascist dictatorship from 1934 to 1938. During this period, the party was heavily persecuted.

After World War II, the SPÖ was reconstituted as the Socialist Party of Austria in 1945, with Adolf Schärf as its leader. The party entered into a grand coalition with the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and played a crucial role in the formation of the Second Republic. Karl Renner, from the SPÖ, became the Republic's first president. From 1971 to 1983, under Bruno Kreisky, the SPÖ was the sole governing party. This period marked a significant shift in Austrian politics, with the SPÖ implementing various progressive policies.

In 1991, the party reverted to its original name, the Social Democratic Party of Austria, emphasising its commitment to social democracy. The party has faced internal struggles and has seen shifts in its ideological stance over the years, including a period of coalition with the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ). However, the SPÖ has consistently advocated for social welfare, workers' rights, and progressive reforms.

Since June 2023, the SPÖ has been led by Andreas Babler. It currently holds 40 out of 183 seats in the National Council and governs three states as the largest party. The party is supportive of Austria's membership in the European Union and maintains close ties with the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) and the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK).

The New Austria and Liberal Forum (NEOS)

NEOS was founded to "counter stagnation and corruption in Austrian politics" and to offer an alternative for moderate voters disillusioned with the ruling coalition of the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) and Austrian People's Party (ÖVP). The party aims to bring the country back together with its citizens and introduce new forms of participation in politics. It is pro-European and supports the creation of a federal Europe in principle.

In its 2019 election programme, NEOS outlined four key policy areas: sustainability, relief, openness, and education. The party advocates for action against climate change, a carbon tax, international environmental law, and the development of the green economy. It also seeks to lower taxes, reduce red tape for businesses, improve childcare, and provide greater access to private healthcare. In terms of openness, NEOS wants to reduce public funding for political parties, strengthen party auditing, protect privacy, implement direct democracy, and encourage skilled immigration. Finally, in the area of education, the party aims to improve standards and funding for kindergarten, give schools greater autonomy, improve graduation rates, and foster students' skills and interests.

NEOS Lab is the political academy of the liberal grassroots movement and serves as an open laboratory for new politics. Its main objective is to enhance political education in Austria by providing a platform for knowledge exchange and liberal political thinking on key challenges and pathways for democracies and welfare states in the 21st century. Particular emphasis is placed on education, a more entrepreneurial Austria, sustainable welfare systems, and democratic innovation. NEOS Lab views itself as a participatory interface between politics and society, mediating between experts and interested citizens.

Frequently asked questions