Austria's Democratic Status: An Overview

Austria is a democratic republic. Its laws are derived from the people, as stated in Article 1 of the Federal Constitutional Act. The Austrian Federal Constitution was passed by the Constituent National Assembly on October 1, 1920, and amended in 1929 to grant wider powers to the Federal President. The country covers a surface area of 84,000 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 8.9 million. Austria's political system reflects a dynamic competition among multiple parties, with power exercised by both local and federal governments. The country's judiciary is independent of the executive and legislative branches, ensuring a separation of powers. Austrians enjoy fundamental rights, including equality before the law, regardless of birth, gender, status, class, or religion. The country's political history has seen the rise and fall of various coalitions and parties, with a recent shift towards newer parties and a more diverse political landscape.

Austria's democratic history

The First Republic (1918-1938)

Austria's first attempt at a democratic republic began after the fall of the monarchy in 1918. This period, known as the First Republic, was marked by the burden of war reparations imposed by the victorious Allies, which hampered the country's economic recovery. Despite this challenge, the First Republic made significant reforms in the 1920s, particularly in Vienna, that served as a model for social-welfare states in post-World War I Europe.

The Rise of Austrofascism (1933-1938)

However, Austria's democracy faced a setback between 1933 and 1934, as the country gradually slipped into an Austrofascist dictatorship under Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss. This period was marked by the suppression of democratic freedoms and the consolidation of power by the authoritarian regime.

Annexation by Nazi Germany (1938)

The First Republic came to an end in 1938 with the Anschluss, or annexation, of Austria into Nazi Germany. This marked a dark chapter in Austria's history, as the country became a part of the Third Reich until its liberation in April 1945.

The Second Republic (1945-present)

After World War II, Austria regained its independence and established the Second Republic. The foundation of this democratic republic was laid by three anti-fascist parties: the Socialist Party of Austria (SPÖ), the Christian Social Party (ÖVP), and the Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ). They agreed on a proclamation of independence, declaring the restoration of the democratic Republic of Austria and the nullification of the annexation by Nazi Germany.

The Second Republic has been characterised by political competition among multiple parties, with the ÖVP and SPÖ dominating politics for decades. However, newer parties have emerged in recent years, such as the Greens and NEOS, leading to a more diverse political landscape.

Austria's modern political system is a federal semi-presidential republic, with a directly elected Federal President as the head of state and a Chancellor as the head of government. The country's constitution guarantees equality before the law, regardless of birth, gender, status, class, or religion.

Overall, Austria's democratic history has been a journey from the fall of monarchy to the challenges of the First Republic, the setback of Austrofascism, and the liberation and rebuilding of the Second Republic. The country has faced political shifts, the rise of new parties, and a commitment to democratic principles within a federal framework.

Austrian federalism

Austria is a democratic republic with a federal structure. The Republic of Austria is comprised of nine independent federal states, also known as the 'Länder'. The federal capital, Vienna, is the seat of the country's supreme federal authorities.

The Austrian federal system is a unique mix of weak federalist and strong centralist elements. The 1920 constitution, which forms the basis of the Austrian federal system, has been paralleled by informal rules and forces that compensate for the imbalance of power between national and subnational authorities.

In the federal states, the state governor exercises federal executive power where no separate federal authority exists. In matters of indirect federal administration, the state governor is subject to directives from the federal government and individual federal ministers. All state legislation enacted by the state legislatures must be communicated to the federal chancellery before the state governor can publish it.

The Austrian Parliament consists of two chambers: the National Assembly (Nationalrat) and the Federal Council (Bundesrat). The National Assembly is the predominant chamber and the main legislative body. Legislative tasks are carried out at the federal level by the National Assembly in conjunction with the Federal Council. The Federal Council represents the interests of the provinces in Parliament, and its power is rather limited.

The Austrian federal system has been subject to conflicting interpretations and claims since its inception. Political actors are aware that reforming the allocation of rights and duties between the different levels of the federal state is necessary. Initiatives to recalibrate the system of power-sharing between the different levels of government have been undertaken, but progress has been modest.

Austrian political parties

Austrian politics is characterised by competition among multiple political parties. The country has a multi-party system, with over 1,100 registered political parties, although only a few are widely known. Since the 1980s, four parties have consistently received enough votes to gain seats in the national parliament.

Five parties are currently represented in the Austrian Parliament:

• Austrian People's Party (ÖVP): Founded in 1945, the ÖVP is one of the oldest and most influential parties in Austria. It is a conservative party with loose ties to the Catholic Church. It has continuously been in government since 1987 and has strong support in rural regions.
• Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ): The SPÖ is a centre-left party founded in 1888. It is one of the oldest and most significant political parties in Austria, having governed the country several times. The SPÖ has strong support among blue-collar workers and has expanded its focus to include middle-class and white-collar workers.
• Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ): The FPÖ is a right-wing populist party founded in 1955. It attracts votes from young people and workers with nationalist rhetoric targeting Muslims, immigrants, and the European Union.
• The Greens – The Green Alternative: The Greens are a party focusing on environmental and social justice issues. They are particularly strong in city areas and attract left-liberal intellectuals and young voters.
• NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum: NEOS is a liberal party founded in 2012. It stands for freedom, progress, and justice, emphasising transparency, education, entrepreneurship, and climate protection.

Austrian elections

Austrian citizens enjoy a robust democratic system with a variety of avenues for political participation. Austria's political system is a federal semi-presidential republic, with a directly elected Federal President as head of state and a Chancellor as head of government. The Austrian Federal Constitution, passed in 1920, establishes the country's democratic framework, and Article 1 declares: "Austria is a democratic republic. Its laws emanate from the people."

National Council Elections:

The National Council (Nationalrat) is the predominant chamber of the Austrian Parliament and is comprised of 183 members. National Council elections are held regularly every five years, with the most recent one taking place on September 29, 2019, and the next expected in September 2024. The National Council is elected through a system of proportional representation, where parties must receive at least 4% of the votes or win a seat in one of the 43 regional constituencies to gain representation.

Federal Council Elections:

The Federal Council (Bundesrat) is the second chamber of the Austrian Parliament but wields less power than the National Council. Its members are selected by the state legislatures (Landtage) to represent the interests of the provinces. The number of members from each state is recalculated after each census. While the Federal Council has limited powers, it plays a crucial role in certain areas, such as legislation affecting the competences of the provinces.

Federal President Elections:

The Federal President (Bundespräsident) is directly elected by the Austrian people for a term of six years and is limited to two consecutive terms. The Federal President's role is largely ceremonial, but they possess important reserve powers, including the ability to dismiss the cabinet, dissolve the National Council, and call for new elections. The most recent Federal President election took place in 2016, resulting in the election of Alexander Van der Bellen.

Provincial Parliament Elections:

Austria is comprised of nine federal states (Bundesländer), each with its own Provincial Parliament (Landtag). Citizens elect their representatives to these parliaments every five or six years. The Provincial Parliament plays a crucial role in shaping policies and legislation specific to their respective province.

Municipal Council Elections:

Municipal Council elections are held every five or six years to choose local representatives. These elections are open to all residents of the municipality, including EU citizens. The Municipal Council is responsible for making decisions that directly impact the lives of citizens in their local communities.

European Parliament Elections:

As a member state of the European Union, Austria also participates in elections for the European Parliament. Austrian citizens, along with citizens of other EU countries residing in Austria, are eligible to vote for their representatives in the European Parliament, influencing EU-level policies and decision-making.

In addition to these elections, Austria also employs various instruments of direct democracy, such as referendums (Volksabstimmungen), popular initiatives (Volksbegehren), and national opinion polls (Volksbefragungen). These mechanisms allow citizens to have a direct say on specific issues and influence policy-making outside of regular elections.

Austrian constitution

The Austrian Federal Constitution was passed by the Constituent National Assembly on 1 October 1920 and was amended on 7 December 1929 to grant wider powers to the Federal President. The Constitution was reinstated on 1 May 1945, following the end of World War II and the re-establishment of Austria as a sovereign state. The Austrian Constitution has been revised multiple times since then, with the most recent revision in 2009.

The Austrian Constitution is split over many different acts, with the Federal Constitutional Law (Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz, B-VG) at its centre, including the most important federal constitutional provisions. The B-VG does not include a bill of rights, but provisions on civil liberties are split over various constitutional pieces of legislation.

The Austrian Constitution defines the country as a democratic republic, with laws emanating from the people. It is a federal state, consisting of nine independent federal states (the so-called Länder). The territory of the federal republic is made up of the territories of the federal states, constituting a uniform monetary, economic and customs entity. The federal capital and the seat of the supreme federal authorities is Vienna.

The Austrian Constitution is based on the principles of a republican, democratic and federal state, the principle of the rule of law, and the separation of legislative and executive powers and the separation of jurisdiction and administration. It guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms for all citizens, with all citizens being equal before the law. German is the official language, but specific rights have been accorded by federal law to recognised linguistic minorities.

The Federal President is the head of state and is elected by popular vote for a term of six years, with a limit of two consecutive terms. The Federal Chancellor, who is the head of government, is appointed by the Federal President. The Federal Chancellor, along with the Vice-Chancellor and other Federal Ministers, constitute the Federal Government.

The Parliament of Austria consists of two chambers: the National Council (Nationalrat) and the Federal Council (Bundesrat). The National Council is the predominant chamber and has 183 members, elected for a five-year term by proportional representation. The Federal Council has 62 members, selected by the state legislatures (Landtage).

The Austrian Constitution provides for instruments of direct democracy, including referendums (Volksabstimmungen), popular initiatives (Volksbegehren) and national opinion polls (Volksbefragungen).

Frequently asked questions