Lexi Webster
In the 1970s, Austria's political landscape was dominated by the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) and the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), with the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) also playing a significant role. The SPÖ, led by Bruno Kreisky, formed the country's first all-Socialist cabinet in 1970 and ruled alone until 1971, when it gained a clear majority in parliament. The SPÖ's rule was marked by moderate social reform and economic stability, which gained approval from Austrian voters. The ÖVP, on the other hand, had been the dominant force in Austrian politics since the end of World War II, but its power began to wane in the 1970s due to internal divisions and leadership struggles. The FPÖ, which had been associated with right-wing extremism due to its inclusion of former Nazis, rebranded itself as a centrist party during this time and joined the SPÖ-led government in 1983.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Political Stability | Austria enjoyed political stability since World War II |
| Socialist Party | Led by Bruno Kreisky, the Socialists won a plurality of votes in the 1970 election |
| Austrian People's Party | The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) was founded by leaders of the former Christian Social Party in 1945 as a conservative/centre-right party with loose ties to the Catholic Church |
| Chancellor | Bruno Kreisky was appointed chancellor in May 1970 and formed the country's first all-Socialist cabinet |
| Political Dynamics | Austrian politics reflects the dynamics of competition among multiple political parties |
| Federal Structure | Austria is a federal semi-presidential republic, with a President serving as head of state and a Chancellor as head of government |
| Legislative Power | Federal legislative power is vested in the Federal Government and the two chambers of Parliament: the National Council and the Federal Council |
| Judiciary | The judiciary is independent of the executive and legislative branches of government |
| Referendums | As of 2015, there has been one national opinion poll and two referendums, the most recent being on Austria's entry into the European Union |
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What You'll Learn
The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP)
In the Austrian legislative election of 1945, the ÖVP won a landslide victory, obtaining 50% of the vote (85 seats) in the National Council, with the Socialists winning 45% (76 seats) and the Communists 5% (4 seats). A three-party government was formed, which ruled until 1947, when the Communists left, and the ÖVP led a coalition government with the Socialists.
In 1966, the ÖVP–SPÖ Grand Coalition was broken when the ÖVP gained enough votes to govern alone, and it did so until 1970. In 1970, the SPÖ became the strongest party for the first time, winning an absolute majority under its charismatic leader Bruno Kreisky in 1971. The ÖVP re-entered the government in 1986 and has never been completely out of power since the restoration of Austrian independence in 1945.
The ÖVP has undergone several changes in its image over the years, including a change in colour from black to turquoise under the leadership of Sebastian Kurz. The party has also adopted the alternate name, The New People's Party (German: Die neue Volkspartei).
The ÖVP is currently the second-largest party in the National Council, with 51 of the 183 seats, and won 26.3% of the votes cast in the 2024 legislative election. It holds seats in all nine state legislatures and is part of the government in seven, leading six of those. The ÖVP is a member of the International Democracy Union and the European People's Party, sitting with the EPP group in the European Parliament.
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The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ)
In the interwar period, Austromarxism maintained its particularities in the face of German social democracy and Soviet communism. The SPÖ envisaged the creation of a new international aimed at bringing together the different currents of socialism. However, the attempt did not succeed. The party was banned in 1934 following the Austrian Civil War and was suppressed during the Nazi period.
After World War II, the SPÖ was reconstituted as the Socialist Party of Austria and led by Adolf Schärf. It entered the government of the Second Republic as part of a grand coalition with the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) until 1966. In 1970, the SPÖ became the largest party for the first time in post-war history, and Bruno Kreisky became Chancellor, winning three consecutive majorities (1971, 1975, and 1979). From 1971 to 1983, the SPÖ, under Kreisky, was the sole governing party. During this period, the SPÖ implemented moderate social reforms and maintained economic stability.
In the late 1970s, the SPÖ faced a series of scandals related to its technocratic wing, centred around Hannes Androsch, Kreisky's minister of finance. Despite these setbacks, the SPÖ continued to receive support from Austrian voters, and in the 1979 elections, the party won 95 seats in parliament.
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The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ)
In the late 1950s, Reinthaller was replaced as leader by Friedrich Peter, another former SS officer. Under Peter's leadership in the 1960s and 1970s, the party moved towards the political centre. In 1967, the more extreme faction in the FPÖ broke away and formed the National Democratic Party, which was seen as a final shedding of the party's Nazi legacy. After the 1970 election, the FPÖ became the kingmaker, supporting an SPÖ minority government led by Chancellor Bruno Kreisky. Under Kreisky's influence, a new generation of liberals brought the FPÖ into the Liberal International in 1978.
In the early 1980s, Norbert Steger became the new leader of the FPÖ. He sought to style the party as a moderate centrist liberal party, modelled after Germany's Free Democratic Party (FDP). The FPÖ gave external support to the 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 the leader of the FPÖ, and the party began an ideological turn towards right-wing populism, resulting in a strong surge in electoral support. However, this also led to the SPÖ breaking its ties with the FPÖ and the formation of the Liberal Forum in 1993.
The FPÖ has been described as far-right, right-wing populist, national-conservative, and Eurosceptic. The party has a history of controversial leadership, with many of its members, including its early leaders, having associations with Nazism and right-wing extremism. Despite this, the FPÖ has rebranded itself over time, presenting itself as a centrist and pragmatic party. In recent years, the FPÖ has continued to be a significant player in Austrian politics, with a presence in the National Council and state legislatures.
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Austria's neutrality
The Declaration of Neutrality was a direct consequence of this occupation and the desire to assert Austria's independence and sovereignty. The Austrian State Treaty of 1955, which officially ended the war and granted Austria its independence, was conditional on the country's commitment to neutrality. This neutrality was understood to be military rather than ideological, and Austria's anticommunist stance during the Soviet occupation further emphasized this distinction.
The Declaration of Neutrality had a profound impact on Austria's foreign policy and international relations. It stated that Austria would not join any military alliances or permit foreign military bases on its territory. This stance was tested during the Cold War, as Austria navigated between the Western bloc and the Soviet-led Eastern bloc. Austria's neutrality also influenced its approach to international organizations and alliances. Its membership in the European Union (EU) and participation in UN-led peacekeeping missions have raised questions about the compatibility of neutrality with these commitments.
While Austria's neutrality has been a consistent principle, it has not been without internal debates and challenges. Over time, there have been discussions about the extent to which Austria has maintained its neutrality, especially with its involvement in international organizations and the complexities arising from globalized security policies. Nonetheless, public opinion polls in recent years, such as one from March 2022, have shown strong support for Austria's neutrality, indicating its enduring importance in the country's self-perception and foreign policy approach.
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Austria's two-party dominance
In the post-World War II period, Austrian politics was dominated by the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the centre-left Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ), with the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) also playing a significant role. This dynamic of two-party dominance continued until the more recent rise of newer parties like the Greens and the NEOS.
The ÖVP, founded in 1945 by leaders of the former Christian Social Party, is a conservative/centre-right party with loose ties to the Catholic Church. Between 1945 and 1970, it provided the Chancellor of Austria, and from 1966 to 1970, it governed alone after gaining an absolute majority.
The SPÖ, on the other hand, emerged as the strongest party in the 1970 elections, forming the country's first all-Socialist cabinet under the leadership of Bruno Kreisky. Kreisky's moderate social reform and economic stability agenda gained increasing approval from Austrian voters, as demonstrated in the elections of 1975 and 1979.
The FPÖ, despite being associated with right-wing extremism due to the presence of former Nazis in the party, rebranded itself as a centrist party pursuing pragmatic, non-ideological policies. Under the leadership of Norbert Steger in the early 1980s, it sought to style itself as a liberal party, similar to Germany's Free Democratic Party (FDP).
Austria's political landscape has been characterised by grand coalition governments of left and right-wing parties, with periods of single-party rule, such as the SPÖ's dominance in the 1970s under Kreisky. The country's political stability has been accompanied by a strong economy, with Austrians enjoying social security, health insurance, and low unemployment rates.
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Frequently asked questions
In 1970, the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) was the ruling party, having won an absolute majority in the 1966 election. The ÖVP governed alone until 1970, when the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) became the strongest party for the first time, winning a plurality of votes in the 1970 election. Bruno Kreisky, the leader of the SPÖ, was appointed chancellor and formed the country's first all-Socialist cabinet.
The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) was a conservative/centre-right party with loose ties to the Catholic Church.
The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) was a centre-left party. In the 1970s, under the leadership of Bruno Kreisky, the SPÖ pursued a policy of moderate social reform and economic stability.
The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) was seen as a right-wing extremist party due to the presence of many former Nazis in the party. However, by the 1970s, the FPÖ was rebranding itself as a centrist party pursuing pragmatic, non-ideological policies.
