Lexi Webster
Austria's political landscape has been dominated by the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the centre-left Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) for decades following World War II. However, the rise of newer parties, such as the Greens and NEOS, has challenged the traditional two-party system. The Social Democratic Party, founded in 1889, represents social democratic values such as freedom, equality, justice, and solidarity, advocating for social justice, equal opportunities, and the interests of workers, youth, and pensioners. The SPÖ has formed the state government in several federal states and has been represented multiple times at the federal level. In recent years, the SPÖ has faced challenges from right-wing populism and ethno-nationalism, leading to a decline in support.
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What You'll Learn
The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ)
The party has a long history of supporting workers' rights and social justice. In the early 20th century, the SPÖ, then known as the SDAPÖ, was the strongest party in parliament and supported the idea of a union with Germany after the First World War. During the interwar period, the party, influenced by Austromarxism, envisioned the creation of a new international that would bring together different currents of socialism. In 1919, the Social Democrats gained control of the Vienna municipality, implementing ambitious policies such as the construction of workers' housing, the introduction of free medical care, and the promotion of working-class culture.
After the Second World War, the party was reconstituted as the "Socialist Party of Austria" in 1945 and governed as a junior partner of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) until 1966. In the following decades, the SPÖ led several coalition governments and, at times, was the largest party in the country. From 2017 to 2025, the SPÖ was the primary opposition to the ÖVP governments. Since 2025, the SPÖ has once again governed as a junior partner of the ÖVP, this time in coalition with NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum.
The SPÖ currently holds 40 of the 183 seats in the National Council, having won 21.1% of the votes in the 2024 Austrian legislative election. It holds seats in the legislatures of all nine states and forms the state government in some federal states. The party is supportive of Austria's membership in the European Union and is a member of the Progressive Alliance and Party of European Socialists. It has close ties to the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) and the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK).
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The Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ)
During the Nazi dictatorship, the KPÖ played a crucial role in the Austrian resistance, fighting alongside former political enemies. The party also expressed its firm belief in an independent Austria when the country was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938, denouncing Adolf Hitler's dictatorship. This stance, along with its contribution to democratic reconstruction after 1945, shaped the KPÖ's self-image as a force against fascism.
However, the KPÖ has faced criticism and allegations of conformity with the policies of the Soviet leadership during the Cold War era. The party's close relationship with the Soviet Union, while deepening solidarity among members, also led to a lack of criticism for undesirable developments in socialist countries. This marginalised the party during the Cold War.
In recent years, the KPÖ has gained electoral success and held the office of mayor in Graz, Austria's second-largest city, since 2021. The party combines radical-democratic reform policies with a transformative perspective, striving for a democratic socialism that promotes a classless society, environmental protection, and the end of patriarchy. While the KPÖ has faced accusations of historical amnesia and admiration for dictatorships, it remains a significant force in Austrian politics, particularly in federal states like Styria.
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Liste Madeleine Petrovic
The Liste Madeleine Petrovic (LMP) is a centre-left, green, and COVID-19-sceptic political party in Austria. Founded by former Green spokeswoman Madeleine Petrovic, the party participated in the 2024 Austrian legislative election.
Petrovic was the federal spokeswoman of The Greens – The Green Alternative, an Austrian party that advocates for environmental protection, social justice, and human rights, from 1994 to 1996. She was also the state spokeswoman of the Lower Austria party branch for 13 years, leaving the position in 2015. Differences between Petrovic and The Greens leadership grew, and she called the creation of a new party an "inevitable step". The Liste Madeleine Petrovic was officially founded on 14 May 2024. The majority of its members are former members of The Greens, and members of the association "Greens for Fundamental Rights and Freedom of Information" (GGI).
Petrovic named the measures taken by the ÖVP-Green government during the COVID-19 pandemic as the main reason for the split. She believed that her list would attract voters who were critical of the measures to fight COVID-19 and who did not want to vote for the Freedom Party of Austria. She also stated that "mainstream green politics" had developed in the wrong direction and become "problematic".
The Liste Madeleine Petrovic aims to give a voice to those who want to take a confident path with optimism and responsibility. The party intends to focus on reconciliation after the coronavirus period and active peace politics.
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NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum
NEOS's policy development process is unique and highly collaborative. Each task force employs a five-stage process to develop policies, engaging a diverse group of activists, experts, party members, copywriters, and political leaders. This approach has attracted significant participation, with around 150-200 people directly involved in policy meetings and over 1,000 contributing indirectly.
The party's founding chairman, Matthias Strolz, positioned NEOS as an alternative for moderate voters disillusioned with the ruling coalition of the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) and the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP). Strolz aimed to counter stagnation and corruption in Austrian politics, and NEOS has prioritized transparency and a modern, liberal approach.
In terms of its political leanings, NEOS has been described as a "classic party of the centre," with a slight tendency to the left when compared to the ÖVP. Its voters tend to be similar to ÖVP voters but with a more left-leaning outlook. NEOS's coalition partnerships with both the SPÖ and the Greens further illustrate its position on the political spectrum.
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The Greens – The Green Alternative (GRÜNE)
The Austrian Green movement began in 1978 with a successful campaign to prevent the opening of a nuclear power plant in Zwentendorf. This was followed by sit-in protests in 1984 that successfully halted the construction of a power plant at Hainburg. Riding on this momentum, the Green Party was officially born in 1986, entering parliament in the same year with 4.82% of the votes and eight National Council mandates. The party was formed through the merger of the more conservative Green party, Vereinte Grüne Österreichs (United Greens of Austria VGÖ), and the more progressive party, Alternative Liste Österreichs (Alternative List Austria, ALÖ). Since 1993, the party has officially been called Die Grünen – Die Grüne Alternative (Grüne), but it refers to itself in English as "Austrian Greens".
The Greens have been a part of several Austrian governments, including 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. In the 2024 Austrian legislative election, the Greens won 8.2% of the votes cast.
The Greens – The Green Alternative is a member of the European Green Party and Global Greens. It has also inspired similar green parties in other regions, such as the Greens–Green Alternative in Catalonia, which was founded by former members of The Greens–Ecologist Confederation of Catalonia.
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Frequently asked questions
The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) is a centre-left political party that was founded in 1889. It represents social democratic values such as freedom, equality, justice, and solidarity.
The SPÖ advocates for social justice, equal opportunities, and the interests of workers, youth, and pensioners.
The leader of the SPÖ is Andreas Babler.
