Ruqayyah Snyder
Austria's government is currently controlled by a coalition of two major parties: the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) and the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP). This coalition, known as the Grand Coalition, has been in power since 2018 and is led by Chancellor Christian Stocker of the ÖVP. The country has a multi-party political system, with over 1,100 registered political parties, but only a few are known to the larger public. The SPÖ and ÖVP have historically dominated the political scene, often forming coalition governments to govern the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | March 2025 |
| Government Type | Three-party coalition |
| Chancellor | Christian Stocker |
| Coalition Members | People's Party, Social Democrats, NEOS |
| Coalition Leader | Christian Stocker, People's Party |
| Social Democrats Leader | Andreas Babler |
| NEOS Leader | Beate Meinl-Reisinger |
| Previous Government | Caretaker Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg |
| Previous Election Winner | Freedom Party |
| Satisfaction with Democracy | Low |
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What You'll Learn
The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP)
The ÖVP was founded in 1945, immediately after Austria regained its independence following World War II. It has been represented in the Federal Assembly ever since and has consistently been the strongest or second-strongest party. The ÖVP won a landslide victory in the 1945 Austrian legislative election, capturing almost half the popular vote and an absolute majority in the legislature. However, due to memories of hyper-partisanship during the First Republic, the ÖVP maintained a grand coalition with the Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ) and the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ).
The ÖVP remained the senior partner in this coalition until 1966 and governed alone from 1966 to 1970. It re-entered the government in 1986 and has been a fixture in Austrian politics since the restoration of independence in 1945. The party 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 2017, the ÖVP formed a coalition government with the right-wing populist Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ). However, this coalition collapsed in 2019 due to the Ibiza affair, leading to new elections. Following the 2019 elections, the ÖVP formed a new coalition with The Greens, marking Austria's first three-party government since World War II and shutting out the far-right.
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The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ)
Throughout its history, the SPÖ has played a significant role in Austrian politics. After World War I, the party briefly governed the First Austrian Republic but then returned to the opposition. During the interwar period, the SPÖ, maintaining its left-wing ideology, envisioned the creation of a new internationalist movement to bring together different currents of socialism. In the 1920s, particularly in Vienna, the party implemented pioneering reforms that served as models for the social-welfare states of post-World War I Europe. From 1919 to 1934, the Social Democrats controlled the Vienna municipality, earning it the nickname "Red Vienna." During this period, they introduced ambitious policies, including social housing, free medical care, and income and luxury taxes.
However, the SPÖ faced challenges during the rise of authoritarianism in the 1930s. The party was banned in 1934 following the Austrian Civil War and remained suppressed during the Austrofascist period and under Nazi rule. After World War II, Austria resumed its republican government, and the SPÖ was reconstituted as the "Socialist Party of Austria" in 1945, led by Adolf Schärf. The party entered into a grand coalition with the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and governed as a junior partner until 1966.
The SPÖ has had periods of significant influence in Austrian politics, such as when Bruno Kreisky became Chancellor in 1970 and won three consecutive majorities (1971, 1975, and 1979). From 1987 to 2000, the SPÖ led another grand coalition with the ÖVP. More recently, the SPÖ governed from 2007 to 2017 and then served as the primary opposition to the ÖVP governments from 2017 to 2025. Since 2025, the SPÖ has once again governed as a junior partner of the ÖVP, this time in a three-party coalition that includes the liberal NEOS.
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The Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ)
The Austrian Freedom Party, or the FPÖ, is a political party in Austria, generally described as a far-right, right-wing populist, national-conservative, and Eurosceptic party. The party was founded in 1956 as a successor to the Federation of Independents (VdU), a short-lived political party representing pan-Germanists and national liberals who opposed socialism and Catholic clericalism. The FPÖ has been led by Herbert Kickl since 2021.
The Freedom Party's roots can be traced back to the libertarian and nationalist currents of the nineteenth century, which favoured a politically and culturally unified Germany. The party has had a turbulent history, veering politically from the extreme right towards the centre and back again. Initially, the party remained a marginal opposition party, vehemently opposing the hegemony of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), which dominated Austrian politics after World War II.
In 1986, Jörg Haider took over the FPÖ and transformed it into one of the first and most successful populist far-right parties in Europe. Under Haider's leadership, the party shifted its focus to anti-migration issues and identity politics, based on the exclusion of the "ethnic other". This new direction became the core of the party's electoral success. The FPÖ scored its biggest political victory in 1999, winning 26.9% of the vote in nationwide legislative elections. In 2000, Haider stepped down as FPÖ chief after forming a coalition government with the ÖVP. However, the party's vote share collapsed in the following years, leading to internal disputes and a split, with Haider forming a new party, the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ).
In recent years, the FPÖ has continued to capitalise on concerns about immigration and security, linking these issues with its Eurosceptic stance. The party has faced criticism for its anti-Islamic rhetoric, with its political campaigns targeting Muslims and criticising Islamic culture. The FPÖ has also been associated with xenophobic views and controversies involving racist and anti-Semitic remarks by its members. Despite this, the FPÖ remains a significant force in Austrian politics, with a strong base of support and representation in the National Council and state legislatures.
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The Greens
In 2002, the Greens entered into preliminary negotiations about a possible coalition government with the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP). However, these negotiations fell through, and the Greens became the largest opposition party after the 2006 elections, with 21 seats in parliament. In 2020, the Greens joined a coalition government with the conservative People's Party, led by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. The Greens attracted 14% of the vote in the 2019 elections, while the conservatives won 37%. This coalition government was seen as an opportunity to address growing concerns over climate change and to bridge the divide between left-wing and conservative ideologies.
In the 2024 Austrian legislative election, the Greens won 8.2% of the votes cast, a decrease from their previous results. The party lost 10 seats in parliament and is currently in opposition. Despite this setback, the Greens have made a strong recovery and continue to play a significant role in Austrian politics, particularly in advocating for environmental protection and social reform.
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NEOS
In the 2019 legislative election, NEOS won 8.3% of the vote, and this increased to 9.1% in the 2024 Austrian legislative election. The party is represented in six of Austria's nine Landtage (state legislatures) and has been a coalition partner in the Vienna state and city government with the SPÖ since 2020. From 2018 to 2023, NEOS was also part of the state government in Salzburg, together with the ÖVP and the Greens.
In March 2025, NEOS became part of Austria's first three-party government since World War II, in a coalition with the ÖVP and the SPÖ. NEOS leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger pledged "five years of tough negotiation" with the other parties. As part of the coalition agreement, NEOS secured control of the education and foreign ministries.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria has a multi-party political system. As of March 2025, the country's government is controlled by a coalition of three major parties: the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ), and the liberal NEOS.
Austria's political landscape has seen some shifts in recent years, with the rise of new parties and occasional changes in coalition partners. The country's politics were historically dominated by the centre-right conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the centre-left Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ), who often formed coalition governments. However, newer parties such as the Greens and the NEOS have gained prominence, leading to the formation of Austria's first three-party government in March 2025.
The ÖVP is a centre-right conservative party that advocates for economic liberalism, social conservatism, and a strong national identity. It has been a significant player in Austrian politics since the mid-20th century. The SPÖ, on the other hand, is a centre-left party that emphasizes social welfare, labour rights, and progressive values.
The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) is a far-right, right-wing populist, national-conservative, and Eurosceptic party. While it has not been in power, the FPÖ has influenced the political landscape by shifting the policies of governing parties, particularly the ÖVP, to the right. The FPÖ has also faced controversy, with allegations of involvement in the BVT intelligence agency raid during its coalition government with the ÖVP in 2017.
