Leslie Massey
Austria is a federal parliamentary republic with a chancellor as the head of government and a president as the head of state. The country consists of nine states, each with its own constitution, and both regional and federal governments exercise executive power. Austria's politics are governed by the principles of representative democracy and the rule of law, with all citizens enjoying fundamental rights as stated in the Constitution. The country's two main historical parties are the People's Party and the Socialist Party, with the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) also holding significant influence. Austria's government structure resembles that of larger federal republics like Germany, and the country ranks highly in terms of electoral democracy. Austria also plays an active role in the European Union, with representatives attending Council meetings and having a say in EU laws and policies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of government | Federal parliamentary republic |
| Head of government | Chancellor |
| Head of state | President |
| Number of states | 9 |
| Number of chambers in federal Parliament | 2 |
| Name of chambers in federal Parliament | Lower House (Nationalrat) and Upper House (Bundesrat) |
| Number of Austrian Members of the European Parliament | 20 |
| Number of Austrian representatives on the European Economic and Social Committee | 12 |
| Number of Austrian representatives on the European Committee of the Regions | 12 |
| Ranking in the EU in terms of GDP per capita | 5th |
| GDP per capita | €46 200 |
| Number of levels of judicial authority | 4 |
| Levels of judicial authority | District courts (Bezirksgericht), regional courts (Landesgericht), Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht), Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) |
| Ranking in the world in terms of electoral democracy in 2023 | 35th |
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What You'll Learn
Austria's far-right government
Austria's political landscape is characterised by a dynamic multiparty system, with various ideologies vying for influence. One notable aspect is the presence of a far-right faction, notably represented by the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ). The FPÖ has historically been described as far-right, right-wing populist, national-conservative, and Eurosceptic. The party was founded in 1956, succeeding the short-lived Federation of Independents (VdU).
The FPÖ's ideological trajectory has evolved over time. Initially, it embraced national liberalism, pan-Germanism, and anti-clericalism, positioning itself as a centre-to-centre-right party. However, a significant shift occurred in 1986 when Jörg Haider became the party leader. Under Haider's leadership, the FPÖ underwent a rightward turn, departing from its liberal roots and embracing right-wing populism. This ideological shift resulted in a surge of electoral support for the party, propelling it to second place in the 1999 election.
Haider's radical-populist rhetoric, however, made it challenging for the FPÖ to form coalitions with other parties. Despite this, the FPÖ managed to form a coalition with the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) in 1999, marking a significant moment in Austria's political history. This coalition faced criticism and led to international outcry, with European Union sanctions politically isolating Austria due to its ambivalent approach to extremist politics.
In recent years, the FPÖ has continued to gain support, benefiting from political circumstances such as opposition to COVID-19 measures, skepticism towards vaccines, and the reemergence of irregular migration as a key issue. The party's support further grew amid Europe's energy and inflationary crises triggered by the Russia-Ukraine War. The FPÖ's rise has sparked concerns due to its links to neo-Nazi groups and its record of racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia.
In the lead-up to the 2024 parliamentary elections, the FPÖ surged in the polls, raising the possibility of an FPÖ-led government under the leadership of Herbert Kickl, who became party leader in 2021. This prospect underscores the normalisation of far-right politics in Austria, where established conservative parties have, at times, elevated the FPÖ to governing positions.
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The Austrian People's Party
The ÖVP was founded in 1945, immediately following the restoration of the Republic of Austria's independence, as an unofficial successor to the Christian Social Party of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Most of its founding members belonged to the former Fatherland Front, led by chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss, who was also a member of the Christian Social Party. Despite the authoritarian nature of Dollfuss' regime, he is remembered by some ÖVP members for resisting Adolf Hitler.
The ÖVP has consistently been the strongest or second-strongest party in the Federal Assembly, leading or partnering in most Austrian federal cabinets. In the 1945 Austrian legislative election, the ÖVP won a landslide victory, securing almost half of the popular vote and an absolute majority in the legislature. The party maintained a grand coalition with the Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ) and the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) until 1966, remaining the senior partner in a coalition with the SPÖ until that time. From 1966 to 1970, the ÖVP governed alone.
The ÖVP underwent a significant change in its image when Sebastian Kurz became chairman, adopting the colour turquoise and the alternate name, The New People's Party (Die neue Volkspartei). In the 2017 Austrian legislative election, the ÖVP became the largest party, forming a coalition government with the FPÖ. However, this coalition collapsed due to the Ibiza affair, leading to the 2019 election. Following this, the ÖVP formed another coalition with The Greens, marking the first time the Greens gained power.
In October 2021, Kurz resigned as chancellor due to a corruption scandal. He was succeeded by Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg of the ÖVP, who was then replaced by Karl Nehammer in December 2021 after a separate corruption scandal involving the ruling People's Party.
The ÖVP is a member of the European People's Party and sits with the EPP group in the European Parliament. It is also a member of the International Democracy Union.
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The Greens
On a national level, the Greens have formed coalition governments with other parties. In 2020, the Greens formed a coalition with the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), led by Sebastian Kurz. This coalition aimed to address issues such as "political Islam" and its "dangerous ideology." However, this alliance has been described as "awkward" due to the parties' differing stances on immigration and tax policies. The Greens have also been part of the Schallenberg government, the Second Kurz government, and the Nehammer government.
The current President of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen, is from the Green Party, having won the 2016 presidential election. He is the first president from the Greens and previously served as the leader of the party.
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Austrian Members of the European Parliament
Austria can delegate 20 members to the European Parliament (EP), which has a total of 720 members. The Austrian Parliament, or Österreichisches Parlament in German, is the bicameral federal legislature of Austria. It consists of two chambers: the National Council and the Federal Council. In certain cases, both houses come together as the Federal Assembly, a body that performs mostly ceremonial functions. The Federal Assembly only convenes on rare occasions, such as witnessing the inauguration of the Federal President. However, under extraordinary circumstances, the Austrian constitution grants it significant responsibilities. For instance, the Federal Assembly would play a crucial role in the hypothetical impeachment of a Federal President.
The National Council, the dominant but 'lower' house, consists of 183 members who are elected through proportional representation in a general election. The legislative period lasts for five years, although elections may be held earlier if the National Council prematurely dissolves. The Federal Council, on the other hand, is elected indirectly through the provincial assemblies (Landtage) of the nine states of the Federal Republic. Its composition reflects the distribution of seats in the Austrian Landtage.
From 2009 to 2014, Austria had 17 members in the European Parliament. In December 2011, this number increased to 19 with the addition of one member from the Alliance for the Future and another from the Social Democratic Party.
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Austria's constitution
The Austrian Constitution is based on the principles of a republican, democratic, and federal state, with a separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches, and between jurisdiction and administration. Austria's parliament consists of two houses: the National Council and the Federal Council. The National Council holds more power, with Austrians frequently using the term "parliament" to refer to just the National Council instead of the parliament as a whole. The National Council's 183 members are elected by nationwide popular vote, with the Federal Council's 64 members being elected by Austria's nine state legislatures.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria is a federal parliamentary republic with a chancellor as the head of government and a president as the head of state.
Austria's government has representatives in the Council of the EU, where national ministers meet to adopt EU laws and coordinate policies. Austria also communicates with other EU institutions through its permanent representation in Brussels.
Austria is a member state of the European Union and has gained closer ties to other EU economies as a result. It has representatives on the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions.
Austria has a history of occupation and political upheaval, including being incorporated into Germany during World War II. After the war, Austria regained its independence and declared its permanent neutrality, which still influences its foreign policy today.
In 1999, the ÖVP formed a coalition with the right-wing Freedom Party, which led to symbolic sanctions from the EU and reduced contact from the USA, Israel, and other countries. More recently, in 2016, Austria elected Alexander Van der Bellen, a Green Party politician, as president, defeating the far-right Freedom Party candidate. Additionally, in 2022, Austria uncovered a Russian-led disinformation campaign targeting German-speaking countries.
