Conservative Comparison: Austria Vs Hungary

Austria and Hungary, two countries in Central Europe, have had a long and complex history, including a period of union as the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1867 to 1918. This union was a constitutional monarchy with a single monarch and it constituted the last phase in the constitutional evolution of the Habsburg monarchy. Today, both countries have distinct political systems and ideologies, with Austria being a federal semi-presidential republic and Hungary having a parliamentary system. In recent years, Austria has been governed by a coalition of conservative and green parties, while Hungary has shifted towards right-wing populism and illiberal democracy under the leadership of Viktor Orbán. When comparing the two countries in terms of conservatism, it is important to consider various factors such as political parties, social policies, and economic ideologies. While both countries have conservative elements, their overall political landscapes are quite different. Therefore, a direct comparison of conservatism between Austria and Hungary is complex and depends on the specific context and areas being examined.

Austrian People's Party (ÖVP)

The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) is a Christian-democratic and liberal-conservative political party in Austria. It is currently the second-largest party in the National Council, with 51 out of 183 seats, and won 26.3% of the votes cast in the 2024 legislative election. The party has been led provisionally by Karl Nehammer since December 2021.

The ÖVP is the unofficial successor to the Christian Social Party, founded in 1893 by Karl Lueger, the mayor of Vienna. The Christian Social Party was a staunchly conservative movement, and most of its members during its founding belonged to the Fatherland Front, led by Engelbert Dollfuss, who was also a member of the Christian Social Party before the Anschluss.

The ÖVP was founded immediately following the re-establishment of the Republic of Austria in 1945 and has been one of the two traditional major parties in Austria since then, alongside the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ). It was the most popular party until 1970 and has traditionally governed in a grand coalition with the 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 Christian-democratic, conservative, and liberal-conservative. It has also been described as a catch-all party of the centre-right, in the vein of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany. For most of its existence, the ÖVP has explicitly defined itself as Catholic and anti-socialist, with the ideals of subsidiarity as defined by the encyclical Quadragesimo anno and decentralisation.

In terms of Federal Assembly seats, the ÖVP has consistently been the strongest or second-strongest party and has thus led or been a partner in most of Austria's federal cabinets. The party's campaign for the 2017 legislative election under the chairmanship of Sebastian Kurz was dominated by a rightward shift in policy, which included a promised crackdown on illegal immigration and a fight against political Islam, making it more similar to the programme of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ).

Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ)

The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) is a centre-left political party founded in 1889 as the Social Democratic Workers' Party of Austria (SDAPÖ). It is the oldest extant political party in Austria and, along with the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), is one of the country's two traditional major parties.

The SDAPÖ was the second-largest party in the Imperial Council of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from the 1890s through the 1910s. After World War I, the party briefly governed the First Austrian Republic, but thereafter returned to the opposition.

In the interwar period, Austromarxism, which maintained its particularities in the face of German social democracy and Soviet communism, envisaged the creation of a new international aimed at bringing together the different currents of socialism. However, the attempt did not succeed.

From 1919 to February 1934, the Social Democrats were in continuous control of the Vienna municipality, which acquired the nickname "Red Vienna". The municipality developed an ambitious policy, including a vast program of construction of workers' housing, the introduction of free medical care, and income and luxury taxes. This socialist experiment, supported by some renowned intellectuals such as Otto Neurath and Sigmund Freud, also inspired violent disgust in conservative circles.

In 1934, the Christian Social Party, the dominant party on the right, overthrew the democratic system and established a regime inspired by fascism. The Social Democrats put up armed resistance, but it was quickly crushed, and the party was banned.

When the Nazis took power in Germany, the Socialists changed their view on the Anschluss, which took place in 1938 and brought Austria into World War II. In 1945, the party was reconstituted as the "Socialist Party of Austria" (SPÖ) and was led by Adolf Schärf. The party entered the government of the Second Republic as part of a grand coalition with the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) until 1966.

From 1971 to 1983, the SPÖ, under Bruno Kreisky, was the sole governing party. For the following three years, it ruled in coalition with the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), and then up to 2000, it was again part of a grand coalition with the ÖVP, with Franz Vranitzky as Chancellor until 1997.

In 1991, the party reverted to including "Democratic" in its name, becoming the "Social Democratic Party of Austria" (SPÖ). During this period, the grand coalition combined with the "Proporz" system, whereby important posts throughout the government were shared out between members of the two main parties, evoked rising discontent. This was a factor in the growing popularity of the FPÖ, which came second to the SPÖ in the 1999 Austrian legislative election.

The following year, the FPÖ and ÖVP formed a right-wing coalition, displacing the SPÖ from a share in the government. While this coalition was still in power, the SPÖ's Heinz Fischer was elected president in the 2004 Austrian presidential election. Following the 2006 Austrian legislative election, another grand coalition was formed between the SPÖ and the ÖVP, lasting until 2017.

In the 2019 Austrian legislative election, the SPÖ lost 12 seats and shrunk to 21.2%. After the lost state elections in Lower Austria and Carinthia at the beginning of 2023, there was a power struggle between the moderate social democratic party wing and the right-wing, FPÖ-friendly party wing. In March 2023, the situation came to a head, leading to a call for a new party leadership election.

At the 2024 Austrian legislative election, the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) won just 21.1%, marking its worst result ever in the National Council.

Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ)

The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) is a political party in Austria, described as far-right, right-wing populist, national-conservative, eurosceptic and Russia-friendly. It is currently led by Herbert Kickl, who became the leader in 2021. It is the largest of five parties in the National Council, with 57 of the 183 seats, and won 28.85% of votes cast in the 2024 election.

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. The party was long the third largest in Austria and had modest support.

In the early 1980s, under the leadership of Norbert Steger, 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.

In 1986, Jörg Haider became leader of the party, 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 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. The FPÖ once again became junior partner in government with the ÖVP. 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 FPÖ has traditionally been part of the "national liberal" camp and generally identifies with a freiheitlich (libertarian) profile. However, since the rise to party leadership of Haider in 1986, the FPÖ departed from liberalism and has been described as national-conservative, right-wing populist, "right-conservative", "right-national" and far-right. The party has focused on describing itself as a Heimat and "social" party, portraying itself as a guarantor of Austrian identity and the social welfare state. It has supported regulated liberalism with privatisation and low taxes, combined with support for the welfare state.

The FPÖ has been accused by the Austrian Mauthausen Committee of being involved in right-wing extremism and possessing a neo-Nazi ideology. The party has also been criticised for its anti-immigrant and anti-foreigner platform, as well as its anti-Semitic and racist slurs.

The Greens

When examining the political landscape of Austria and Hungary, it is worth paying close attention to the Green parties in both countries, especially if we are to understand the conservative nature of these nations and their people. The Green parties in Austria and Hungary advocate for environmental protection, social justice, and progressive values, often serving as a counterbalance to more conservative forces. While the Green parties in both countries share similar ideals, their impact and influence vary due to the unique political contexts of each nation.

Starting with Austria, Die Grünen (The Greens) have established themselves as a significant political force. They have consistently gained parliamentary representation since their founding in 1986, and they currently hold around 10% of the seats in the National Council, the lower house of the Austrian parliament. The Austrian Greens have been particularly successful in urban areas and among younger voters, advocating for issues such as renewable energy, sustainable transportation, and social equality. They have also taken a strong stance against the far-right, often positioning themselves as a progressive alternative to the conservative People's Party (ÖVP) and the right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ).

On the other hand, in Hungary, the Green politics are represented by multiple smaller parties that have struggled to gain a foothold in the country's political system. The Hungarian Greens (Magyarországi Zöld Párt) and the Green Party of Hungary (LMP) are the two most prominent green parties. They advocate for similar issues as their Austrian counterparts, including environmental protection, social justice, and transparency in governance. However, the Hungarian political landscape is dominated by right-wing and nationalist parties, making it challenging for smaller parties like the Greens to gain significant representation.

The Hungarian Greens and LMP have faced an uphill battle due to the country's electoral system and the strong presence of conservative and nationalist forces. They have occasionally managed to secure a few seats in the National Assembly, but their influence remains limited compared to their Austrian counterparts. Nonetheless, they continue to advocate for their values and work towards building a more sustainable and equitable Hungary, often collaborating with civil society organizations and engaging in grassroots movements.

While the Greens in both countries share a commitment to environmental and social issues, their strategies and successes differ. The Austrian Greens have benefited from a proportional representation electoral system and a more diverse political landscape, allowing them to establish themselves as a viable political force. In contrast, the Hungarian Greens operate in a challenging political environment, where their influence is constrained by the dominance of conservative and nationalist ideologies. Nonetheless, they persist in their efforts to bring about change and shape the future of their country.

Liberal Forum (LIF)

The Liberal Forum (LiF) was a centrist, liberal political party in Austria. It was founded on 4 February 1993, when liberals in the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) left the party due to growing disagreements between the liberal wing and the nationalist camp. The FPÖ's petition-drive against foreign immigrants in Austria, the so-called Austria First Referendum, was unacceptable to Heide Schmidt, the first chairperson of the LiF, and her followers. The founders of the new party wanted to be a liberal party in the classical sense, advocating for a free market economy, environmental protection, and world peace. The Liberal Forum was the first party in the history of the Second Republic (since 1945) to achieve immediate seats in parliament without prior elections. The party managed to gain 11 seats in the 1994 parliamentary elections and 10 seats in the 1995 elections. However, following the resignation of Schmidt as chairperson and the elections in 1999, the party's support plummeted, and it failed to gain any seats. In the 2002 elections, it obtained 1% of the vote. As a consequence, it also lost votes in state elections and was only represented on the communal level.

In terms of Austria and Hungary's relative conservatism, opinions vary. Some consider Austria to be conservative compared to other European countries, while others disagree, depending on the country of comparison. Austria is considered conservative in many fields, such as gender equality and gay rights, with a common mentality of preserving the status quo. However, in other areas, such as abortion, prostitution, free speech, science and arts, gun laws, public media access, and education, Austria may be viewed as more liberal.

Hungary, on the other hand, is described as being both more progressive and more conservative than Austria in different fields. While it has more women in leadership positions, it is challenging to make a direct comparison between the two countries due to differences in language and complex societies.

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