Austria

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Austria Image File history File links Flag_of_Austria_(state). ...

Constitution of Austria President (Heinz Fischer) Chancellor (Wolfgang Schüssel) Vice-Chancellor (Hubert Gorbach) Parliament: Federal Assembly Federal Council National Council Political parties Elections Legislative: 2006 | 2002 | 1999 Presidential: 2004 | 1998 States (Länder) Landtage Foreign relations EU Politics

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Politics of Austria takes place in a framework of a federal parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Chancellor is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Federal legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament, the National Council and the Federal Council. Since 1949 the party system is dominated by the conservative Austrian People's Party and the social democratic Social Democratic Party of Austria. The Constitution of Austria or sterreichisches Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz (B-VG) is one of the chartas governing political life in the Republic of Austria. ... The Leopoldine Wing of Hofburg Imperial Palace in Vienna: home to the offices of the Federal President. ... Heinz Fischer (born 9 October 1938) is the federal president of Austria. ... The Federal Chancellor of Austria (Bundeskanzler) is the head of government in Austria. ... Wolfgang Schüssel Wolfgang Schüssel (born on June 7, 1945 in Vienna, Austria) is a Christian Democratic Austrian politician. ... In Austrian politics, the Vice Chancellor (Vizekanzler) is a member of the federal government acting as a deputy to the Federal Chancellor. ... Gorbach (left) and Chancellor Schüssel Hubert Gorbach (born July 27, 1956) is an Austrian politician from the Freedom Party. ... The Austrian parliament consists of two chambers, the Nationalrat (national council) and the Bundesrat (federal council). ... The Federal Assembly of Austria or Österreichische Bundesversammlung is a federal-level deliberative body consisting of the members of the two houses of the Austrian parliament, the National Council and the Federal Council, in joint session. ... The Federal Council of Austria or Bundesrat is one of the two separate councils of parliament of Austria. ... The National Council or Nationalrat is one of the two houses of the Federal Assembly, the bicameral federal parliament of the Federal Republic of Austria. ... A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues with the aim to participate in power, usually by participating in elections. ... Elections in Austria gives information on election and election results in Austria. ... The election for the National Council of 24 November 2002 took place prematurely, only three years after the last elections. ... In Austria, the legislative election of October 3, 1999 (elections for the National Council of Austria) caused a major upheaval in the political landscape. ... Presidential elections were held in Austria on 25 April 2004. ... The Austrian presidential election of 1998 was won by the incumbent president Thomas Klestil, who sought reelection as an independent candidate. ... Since Austria is a federal republic according to the constitutional framework of Austrian politics, Austrias nine provinces are customarily referred to as States of Austria or Bundesländer, singular Bundesland. ... Six political parties are represented in the eight Austrian states as well as in Viennas municipal council. ... The 1955 Austrian State Treaty ended the four-power occupation and recognized Austria as an independent and sovereign state. ... The European Union or EU is a supranational and intergovernmental union of 25 European states. ... Image File history File links European_flag. ... This is the history of Austria. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... A federation (Latin: foedus, covenant) is a state comprised of a number of partially self-governing regions (often themselves referred to as states) united by a central (federal) government. ... States currently utilizing parliamentary systems are denoted in red and orange—the former being constitutional monarchies and the latter being republics A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in U.S. English), is distinguished by the executive branch of government being dependent on the direct or indirect support... Representative democracy is a form of democracy founded on the exercise of popular sovereignty by the peoples representants. ... In a broad definition a republic is a state or country that is led by people who do not base their political power on any principle beyond the control of the people of that state or country. ... The Federal Chancellor of Austria (Bundeskanzler) is the head of government in Austria. ... The head of government is the leader of the government or cabinet. ... Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the executive is the branch of a government charged with implementing, or executing, the law. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ... The National Council or Nationalrat is one of the two houses of the Federal Assembly, the bicameral federal parliament of the Federal Republic of Austria. ... The Federal Council of Austria or Bundesrat is one of the two separate councils of parliament of Austria. ... The Austrian Peoples Party (de:Österreichische Volkspartei, or ÖVP) is an Austrian political party. ... The Social Democratic Party of Austria (de:Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs, or SPÖ) is a political party in Austria. ...

The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. In law, the judiciary or judicature is the system of courts which administer justice and provide a mechanism for the resolution of disputes. ...

The ethnically and culturally homogeneous nation state of Austria is the small but prosperous remnant of Austria-Hungary, a vast multinational empire that ceased to exist in 1918. Having been an authoritarian monarchy with a thin veil of constitutionality until then, Austria embarked on a first attempt at republican governance in the years following the collapse of the empire. This attempt quickly failed; Austria's First Republic (1918-1938) gradually degenerated into a clerical fascist dictatorship between 1933 and 1934 and eventually embraced National Socialist totalitarianism in 1938. Following the defeat of National Socialism in 1945, however, Austria began to incrementally evolve into a bona fide liberal democracy. As of the beginning of the twenty-first century, Austria's Second Republic presents itself as a stable federal republic with a written constitution, governed according to the principles of representative democracy and the rule of law. The constitutional framework of the Politics of Austria and the marrow of the constitution's practical implementation are widely agreed to be robust and adequately conducive to peaceful change. A nation-state is a specific form of state (a political entity), which exists to provide a sovereign territory for a particular nation (a cultural entity), and which derives its legitimacy from that function. ... Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Authoritarianism describes a form of government characterized by strict obedience to the authority of the state, which often maintains and enforces social control through the use of oppressive measures. ... Places where monarchies maintain rule appear in blue. ... Constitutional monarchies with representative parliamentary systems are shown in red A constitutional monarchy is a form of monarchical government established under a constitutional system which acknowledges an elected or hereditary monarch as head of state. ... In a broad definition a republic is a state or country that is led by people who do not base their political power on any principle beyond the control of the people of that state or country. ... Clerical fascism is an ideological construct that combines the political and economic doctrines of fascism with theology or religious tradition. ... It has been suggested that Dictator be merged into this article or section. ... 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... National Socialism redirects here. ... Totalitarianism is a typology employed by political scientists, especially those in the field of comparative politics, to describe modern regimes in which the state regulates nearly every aspect of public and private behavior. ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... This article or section is missing references or citation of sources. ... The Federal Republic of Germany and its sixteen Bundesländer (Federal States) A federal republic is a state which is both a federation and a republic. ... A constitution is a system, often codified in a written document, which establishes the rules and principles by which an organization is governed. ... Representative democracy is a form of democracy founded on the exercise of popular sovereignty by the peoples representants. ... The rule of law is the principle that governmental authority is legitimately exercised only in accordance with written, publicly disclosed laws adopted and enforced in accordance with established procedure. ...

Constitution

Main article: Constitution of Austria The Constitution of Austria or sterreichisches Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz (B-VG) is one of the chartas governing political life in the Republic of Austria. ...

Even though the Republic of Austria is just slightly larger than Maine, Scotland, or Hokkaidō, and even though it is home to an ethnically and culturally homogeneous population of barely more than eight million people, Austria's constitution characterizes the republic as a federation consisting of nine autonomous federal states. Both the federation and all its states have written constitutions defining them to be republican entities governed according to the principles of representative democracy. Aside from the fact that the states of Austria lack an independent judiciary on the one hand and that their autonomy is largely notional on the other hand, Austria's government structure is surprisingly similar to that of incomparably larger federal republics such as Germany or the United States. Official language(s) None Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  - Total   - Width   - Length    - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 39th 33,414 sq mi  86,542 km² 190 miles  305 km 320 miles  515 km 13. ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... Hokkaido   listen? (北海道 Hokkaidō, literal meaning: North Sea Route, Ainu: Mosir), formerly known as Ezo, is the second largest island of Japan. ... In a broad definition a republic is a state or country that is led by people who do not base their political power on any principle beyond the control of the people of that state or country. ... Representative democracy is a form of democracy founded on the exercise of popular sovereignty by the peoples representants. ... Since Austria is a federal republic according to the constitutional framework of Austrian politics, Austrias nine provinces are customarily referred to as States of Austria or Bundesländer, singular Bundesland. ... In law, the judiciary or judicature is the system of courts which administer justice and provide a mechanism for the resolution of disputes. ...

Executive branch

Austria's head of state is the Bundespräsident (Federal President), elected by popular vote for a term of six years and limited to two terms of office. Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State of 16 countries including: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand and the Bahamas, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ... President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, universities, and countries. ...

The federal cabinet consists of the Bundeskanzler (Federal Chancellor, prime minister) appointed by the president and a number of ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chancellor. The federal cabinet is answerable to the National Council and can be forced to resign by a motion of no confidence. Traditionally the president assigns the chairperson of the party with the largest number of seats in the National Council with building the cabinet. However the National Council is elected by proportional representation and different coalitions of parties represented in it are possible. Therefore the president cannot select a cabinet at his/her discretion but has to respect the will of the majority of deputies to the National Council. A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... Various governments have a Chancellor who serves as some form of junior or senior minister. ... A motion of no confidence, also called a motion of non confidence, is a parliamentary motion traditionally put before a parliament by the opposition in the hope of defeating or embarrassing a government. ... Proportional representation, also known as full representation, is an electoral system in which the overall votes are reflected in the overall outcome of the body or bodies of representatives. ... A coalition is an alliance between entities, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest. ... A political party is an organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ...

The office of the Federal President is largely ceremonial, although the constitution allows the president to dismiss the cabinet or to dissolve the National Council and call new elections. The Bundesversammlung (Federal Assembly), which is formed by National Council and Federal Council in joint session, can call a referendum on the impeachment of the president if it concludes that the president violated the constitution. The Federal Assembly of Austria or Österreichische Bundesversammlung is a federal-level deliberative body consisting of the members of the two houses of the Austrian parliament, the National Council and the Federal Council, in joint session. ...

This form of government could be described as a mixture between parliamentary and presidential democracy. But during the Second Republic until the present day no president ever has used one of the above mentioned rights, and they generally refrained from intervening in day-to-day political conflicts. The Leopoldine Wing of Hofburg Imperial Palace in Vienna: home to the offices of the Federal President. ... Heinz Fischer (born 9 October 1938) is the federal president of Austria. ... The Social Democratic Party of Austria (de:Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs, or SPÖ) is a political party in Austria. ... July 8 is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 176 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Federal Chancellor of Austria (Bundeskanzler) is the head of government in Austria. ... Wolfgang Schüssel Wolfgang Schüssel (born on June 7, 1945 in Vienna, Austria) is a Christian Democratic Austrian politician. ... The Austrian Peoples Party (de:Österreichische Volkspartei, or ÖVP) is an Austrian political party. ... February 4 is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... In Austrian politics, the Vice Chancellor (Vizekanzler) is a member of the federal government acting as a deputy to the Federal Chancellor. ... Gorbach (left) and Chancellor Schüssel Hubert Gorbach (born July 27, 1956) is an Austrian politician from the Freedom Party. ... The Alliance for the Future of Austria (de: Bündnis Zukunft Österreich or BZÖ) is an Austrian political party founded by Jörg Haider, his sister Ursula Haubner, and other leading members of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) on April 4, 2005. ... October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A parliamentary system, or parliamentarism, is distinguished by the executive branch of government being dependent on the direct or indirect support of the parliament, often expressed through a vote of confidence. ... A presidential system, or a congressional system, is a system of government of a republic where the executive branch is elected separately from the legislative. ...

The federal government is subject to significant, albeit decreasing, influence by state-approved, compulsory-membership chambers of labour, commerce and agriculture, as well as by trade unions and lobbyist groups. During periods of coalition government by the two large political camps, conservatives and social democrats, this has led to a system called Proporz, where all jobs in the public administration were evenly distributed to supporters of the two parties. At that time the so-called Sozialpartnerschaft (socio-economic partnership) between the chambers of commerce and labour decided on large parts of Austria's economic policy. These decisions were made in back-room meetings and then forwarded to the parliament where they were enacted without discussion. A union (labor union in American English; trade union, sometimes trades union, in British English; either labour union or trade union in Canadian English) is a legal entity consisting of employees or workers having a common interest, such as all the assembly workers for one employer, or all the workers... Lobbying is the professional practice of public affairs advocacy, with the goal of influencing a governing body by promoting a point of view. ... // Overview Proporz is a long standing doctrine within the politics of the second Austrian republic. ...

Following Austria's admittance into the European Union in 1995, the federal government has also begun ceding core responsibilities to supranational institutions at an increasing rate. 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Legislative branch

The Parliament of Austria (Parlament) has two chambers. The National Council (Nationalrat) has 183 members, elected for a four year term by proportional representation. It is the predominant of the legislature's two chambers . The politically less significant Federal Council (Bundesrat) has 64 members, elected from five to six year by the provincial parliaments. The power of the Federal Council is very limited because its veto has only deferring effect. The Austrian parliament consists of two chambers, the Nationalrat (national council) and the Bundesrat (federal council). ... The bicameral legislature of the United States is housed in a capitol building with two wings. ... The National Council or Nationalrat is one of the two houses of the Federal Assembly, the bicameral federal parliament of the Federal Republic of Austria. ... Proportional representation, also known as full representation, is an electoral system in which the overall votes are reflected in the overall outcome of the body or bodies of representatives. ... The Federal Council of Austria or Bundesrat is one of the two separate councils of parliament of Austria. ...

Political parties and elections

The following election results include names of political parties. See for additional information about parties the List of political parties in Austria. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Austria. An election is a decision making process whereby people vote for preferred political candidates or parties to act as representatives in government. ... A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues. ... A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues with the aim to participate in power, usually by participating in elections. ... An election is a decision making process whereby people vote for preferred political candidates or parties to act as representatives in government. ... Elections in Austria gives information on election and election results in Austria. ...

Main article: Austrian presidential election, 2004

Summary of the 24 November 2002 National Council of Austria election results
Parties		Votes	+/-	%	+/-	Seats	+/-
	Austrian People's Party (Österreichische Volkspartei)	2.076.833	+833,161	42.30	+15.39	79	+27
	Social Democratic Party of Austria (Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs)	1.792.499	+260,051	36.51	+3.36	69	+4
	Freedom Party of Austria (Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs)	491.328	-752,759	10.01	-16.90	18	-34
	Greens - Green Alternative (Die Grünen - Die Grüne Alternative)	464.980	+122,720	9.47	+2.07	17	+3
	Liberal Forum (Liberales Forum)	48.083	-120,529	0.98	-2.67	—
	Communist Party of Austria (Kommunistische Partei Österreichs)	27.568	+5,552	0.56	+0.08	—
	Socialist Left Party (Sozialistische Linkspartei) 1	3.906	*	0.08	*	—
	Democrats (Die Demokraten) 2	2.439	*	0.05	*	—
	Christian Electoral Unity (Christliche Wählergemeinschaft) 3	2.009	-1,021	0.04	-0.03	—
	Total (turnout 84.27 %; +3.85)	4,909,645		100.0		183
Notes: * Did not stand in 1999. 1 Stood only in Vienna. 2 Stood only in Vienna and Vorarlberg. 3 Stood only in Vorarlberg. Heinz Fischer (born 9 October 1938) is the federal president of Austria. ... The Social Democratic Party of Austria (de:Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs, or SPÖ) is a political party in Austria. ... Benita Ferrero-Waldner Benita Ferrero-Waldner (born September 5, 1948) is the European Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and an Austrian diplomat and politician. ... The Austrian Peoples Party (de:Österreichische Volkspartei, or ÖVP) is an Austrian political party. ... Presidential elections were held in Austria on 25 April 2004. ... The National Council or Nationalrat is one of the two houses of the Federal Assembly, the bicameral federal parliament of the Federal Republic of Austria. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (873x290, 21 KB)Logo of the Austrian Peoples Party ÖVP. Send by the Press Office of the ÖVP. Erlaubniss zur Nutzung von der Pressestelle durch Email erteilt. ... The Austrian Peoples Party (de:Österreichische Volkspartei, or ÖVP) is an Austrian political party. ... Image File history File links Sp-bundKopie. ... The Social Democratic Party of Austria (de:Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs, or SPÖ) is a political party in Austria. ... Image File history File links FP_LOGO_rgb. ... The Austrian Freedom Party (Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs, abbreviated to FPÖ) is an Austrian political party formerly associated with the name of Jörg Haider, who is no longer a party member. ... Image File history File links Die_Grünen_Parteilogo. ... The Greens-Green Alternative (Die Grünen - Die Grüne Alternative (Grüne) in German) is a political party in the Austrian parliament. ... Image File history File links LIF-LOGO_CMYK.PNG Summary Logo of the Austrian Liberal Party Liberales Forum. ... The Liberal Forum (de: Liberales Forum, or LiF) is a small liberal party in Austria. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (945x426, 132 KB) Summary Logo of the Communist Party of Austria KPÖ. Provided by the Press Office of the KPÖ [1]. Erlaubniss zur Nutzung von der Pressestelle erteilt durch Email, Logo von der Pressestelle zugeschickt. ... The Communist Party of Austria (de: Kommunistische Partei Österreichs, or KPÖ) is a communist party from Austria. ... Image File history File links SLP_GanzRot. ... The Socialist Left Party (de: Sozialistische LinksPartei, or SLP) is a minor socialist political party in Austria. ... Image File history File links Die_Demokraten_Parteilogo. ... Die Demokraten (German: The Democrats) is a minor political party in Austria, that never won a seat in a federal election. ... Image File history File links CWG_logo. ... Christian Electoral Unity (German language: Christliche Wählergemeinschaft) is a Christian ultra-conservative political grouping in Austria. ... Vienna (German: Wien ; Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian: Beč, Czech: Vídeň, Hungarian: Bécs, Romanian: Viena, Romani: Bech or Vidnya, Russian: Вена, Slovak: Viedeň, Slovenian: Dunaj) is the capital of Austria, and also one of the nine States of Austria. ... Vienna (German: Wien ; Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian: Beč, Czech: Vídeň, Hungarian: Bécs, Romanian: Viena, Romani: Bech or Vidnya, Russian: Вена, Slovak: Viedeň, Slovenian: Dunaj) is the capital of Austria, and also one of the nine States of Austria. ... Vorarlberg is the westernmost state (Land) of Austria. ... Vorarlberg is the westernmost state (Land) of Austria. ...
Source: Siemens Austria, BMI

Main article: Austria legislative election, 2002

After the elections a major faction of the FPÖ formed the Alliance for the Future of Austria (Bündnis Zukunft Österreich). The election for the National Council of 24 November 2002, saw the consevative Austrian Peoples Party win the government, taking seats from the nationalist Freedom of Austria Party whom it was in coalition with. ... The Alliance for the Future of Austria (de: Bündnis Zukunft Österreich or BZÖ) is an Austrian political party founded by Jörg Haider, his sister Ursula Haubner, and other leading members of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) on April 4, 2005. ...

Political Conditions

Since World War II, Austria has enjoyed political stability. A Socialist elder statesman, Dr. Karl Renner, organized an Austrian administration in the aftermath of the war, and general elections were held in November 1945. In that election, the conservative People's Party (ÖVP) obtained 50% of the vote (85 seats) in the National Council, the Socialists won 45% (76 seats), and the communists won 5% (4 seats). The ensuing three-party government ruled until 1947, when the communists left the government and the ÖVP led a governing coalition with the socialists (now called the Social Democratic Party or SPÖ) that governed until 1966. In that year, the ÖVP won an absolute majority and ruled alone for the next four years. The tables turned in 1970, when the SPÖ became the strongest party for the first time, surprisingly winning an absolute majority under its charismatic leader Bruno Kreisky in 1971. Between 1971 and 1999, the SPÖ ruled the country either alone or in conjunction with the ÖVP, except from 1983-86, when it governed in coalition with the Freedom Party (this coalition broke when the right-wing politician Jörg Haider became the leader of the Freedom Party). The elections to the Austrian National Council held in fall of 1945 were the first after World War II. Surprisingly, the KPÖ only gained four seats, even though it was strongly supported by the Soviet Union, which had its troups in the east of the country. ... Bruno Kreisky Bruno Kreisky (January 22, 1911—July 29, 1990) was a jewish -Austrian politician. ... Jörg Haider in Carinthia (promotional photo) Jörg Haider (born 26 January 1950) is an Austrian politician. ...

After the election of 1999, despite emerging only in third place after the elections, the ÖVP formed a coalition with the right wing-populist Freedom Party (FPÖ) in early 2000. The SPÖ, which was the strongest party in the 1999 elections, and the Greens now form the opposition. As a result of the inclusion of the FPÖ on the government, the EU imposed symbolic sanctions on Austria, which were revoked six months later. The U.S. and Israel, as well as various other countries, also reduced contacts with the Austrian Government. The ÖVP was re-elected, this time with a plurality of votes, in the 2002 elections, and formed another coalition government with the FPÖ, this time largely ignored by other countries. In Austria, the legislative election of October 3, 1999 (elections for the National Council of Austria) caused a major upheaval in the political landscape. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... The election for the National Council of 24 November 2002 took place prematurely, only three years after the last elections. ...

The Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) traditionally draws its constituency from blue- and white-collar workers. Accordingly, much of its strength lies in urban and industrialized areas. In the 2002 national elections, it garnered 36.5% of the vote. The SPÖ in the past advocated heavy state involvement in Austria's key industries, the extension of social security benefits, and a full-employment policy. Beginning in the mid-1980s, it shifted its focus to free market-oriented economic policies, balancing the federal budget, and European Union (EU) membership.

The People's Party (ÖVP) advocates conservative financial policies and privatization of much of Austria's nationalized industry and finds support from farmers, large and small business owners, and lay Catholic groups, but also from voters without party affiliation, with strongholds in the rural regions of Austria. In 2002, it received 42.3% of the vote. A small business may be defined as a business with a small number of employees. ...

This article or section needs to be updated. Parts of this article or section have been identified as no longer being up to date. Please update the article to reflect recent events, and remove this template when finished. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

The rightist Freedom Party (FPÖ) attracts protest votes and those who desire no association with the other major parties. The party's mixture of populism and anti-establishment themes propagated by its aggressive leader Jörg Haider steadily gained support from the beginning of Jörg Haider's leadership in 1986 until it attracted about 27% of the vote in the 1999 elections. However, their voters were soon disillusioned by the party's style of government, and in the 2002 elections they were reduced to just 10%. Recent regional and communal elections led to further losses. Jörg Haider in Carinthia (promotional photo) Jörg Haider (born 26 January 1950) is an Austrian politician. ...

The Greens (GRÜNE), a left-of-center party focusing on social and environmental issues, received 9.4% of the vote in 2002. They are particularly strong in the city areas, for example in Vienna, where they received 22% of the votes in the 2004 EU-elections. In Neubau they received 41% of the votes, more than SPÖ and ÖVP combined. The Greens attract left-wing intellectuals and voters from 18-30. Neubau is the seventh district of Vienna, with a population of 28,292 people (2001) within an area of 1,61 km². It consists of the former Vorstädte of Neubau, Altlerchenfeld, St. ...

The Liberal Forum (LIF), founded on liberal ideals, split from the Freedom Movement in February 1993. It received 3.65% of the vote in the 1999 election and thus failed to re-enter the national legislature. After being reduced to under 1% in the 2002 election, they disappeared almost completely from public view. This article discusses liberalism as a major worldwide political ideology, its development, and its many modern-day variations. ...

Recent events

After major disputes inside the FPÖ between Haider and vice-chancellor Susanne Riess-Passer (the so-called Knittelfeld Putsch), the ÖVP broke the coalition in 2002 and called for re-elections. Riess-Passer left the FPÖ, and the former Minister of Social Services, Herbert Haupt, was appointed as new leader. In a brilliant marketing move, Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel convinced the then very popular Minister of Finance Karl-Heinz Grasser to change from the FPÖ to the ÖVP. In Austrian politics, the Vice Chancellor (Vizekanzler) is a member of the federal government acting as a deputy to the Federal Chancellor. ... Susanne Riess-Passer (born January 3, 1961 in Braunau am Inn) is a former Austrian politician of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ). In the first government headed by Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, which was inaugurated in 2000, she became Vice Chancellor and minister of public services and sports, representing... Knittelfeld Putsch refers to a conference of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) which took place on 7 September 2002 in the small Austrian town of Knittelfeld, Styria, called due to political differences within the party leadership. ... Herbert Haupt (born September 28, 1947) is an Austrian politician and former party chairman of the Austrian Freedom Party. ... Wolfgang Schüssel Wolfgang Schüssel (born on June 7, 1945 in Vienna, Austria) is a Christian Democratic Austrian politician. ... Portrait of Karl-Heinz Grasser Karl-Heinz Grasser is an Austrian politician who currently holds the office of the Austrian Minister of Finance. ...

Not only was the FPÖ publicly blamed for breaking the coalition and had lost Minister Grasser to the ÖVP, their style of government and broken promises also left many of their former voter disillusioned. In the elections, which were held on 24 November 2002, they suffered the biggest loss of votes in Austria's history, going down from 27% to only 10%. Most of these losses went to the ÖVP, which went up from 26% to 42%, the highest value for decades. Both Greens and Social Democrats gained votes, but not enough to form a coalition (only 85 of 183 seats). November 24 is the 328th day (329th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

Against public opinion (which was in favour of an ÖVP-SPÖ coalition government) Chancellor Schüssel renewed the coalition between the ÖVP and FPÖ.

Despite being exposed to fierce criticism from the opposition parties for failed or highly unfavorable privatization deals, the highest tax rates and unemployment figures since 1945, a questionable fighter jet purchase and repeated accusations that Finance Minister Grasser may have evaded taxes, the government seems to be the most stable in decades as both parties are afraid of losing votes. Recent law changes concerning the police, the national television and radio company, the federal railways and the social security system have led to an increase of the ÖVP's and FPÖ's influence in these bodies.

In early April 2005, following severe disputes within the FPÖ, Jörg Haider announced the creation of a new party, the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ). All FPÖ members of government and most members of parliament joined the BZÖ, but the picture after the split looks very diverse on state and local levels. However, as of April 2005, it seems that the current coalition holds, as neither the ÖVP, nor the BZÖ or the FPÖ has any interest in holding early elections, which those parties are likely to lose. The Alliance for the Future of Austria (de: Bündnis Zukunft Österreich or BZÖ) is an Austrian political party founded by Jörg Haider, his sister Ursula Haubner, and other leading members of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) on April 4, 2005. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Austrian Peoples Party or Österreichische Volkspartei is an Austrian political party. ... The Alliance for the Future of Austria (German Bündnis Zukunft Österreich — BZÖ) is a political party founded by Jörg Haider and other leading proponents of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) on April 4, 2005. ... The Austrian Freedom Party (Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs, abbreviated to FPÖ) is an Austrian political party usually associated with the name of Jörg Haider. ...

Overview of political pressure groups and lobbies

Austrian Trade Union Federation - ÖGB; Economic Chamber of Austria - WKO; Federation of Austrian Industry - VOeI; Chamber of Labor - AK, Conference of the Presidents of Farmers' Chambers. Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action, Austrian National Union of Students - ÖH; The Austrian Trade Union Federation or Austrian Federation of Trade Unions (de: Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund, abbreviated OeGB or ÖGB) is a socialist-dominated labour union of employees. ... The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (de: Wirtschaftskammer Österreich or WKÖ) is the legal representative of the Austrian business community. ... The Federation of Austrian Industry (de: Vereinigung der Österreichischen Industrie or Industrievereinigung, shortform VOeI or IV) is an organisation for Austrian industrialists. ... The Chamber of Labour (de: Kammer für Arbeiter und Angestellte, shortform Arbeiterkammer or AK), is an organisation that represents the interests of 3 million Austrian employees and consumers. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Catholicism. ... This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... The Austrian National Union of Students (German: Österreichische HochschülerInnenschaft, short ÖH) is the general students representative body in Austria. ...

International organization participation

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, International Maritime Organization, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, Zangger Committee The African Development Bank (AfDB) is a development bank established in 1964 with the intention of promoting economic and social development in Africa. ... The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a non-profit finance institution with many Asian governments as shareholder members who are also the recipients of funding where appropriate. ... Australia Group is an informal group of countries established in 1985 (after the use of chemical weapons by Iraq in 1984) to help reduce the spread of chemical and biological weapons by monitoring and controlling the spread of technologies required to produce them. ... BIS Headquarters in Basel The Bank for International Settlements (or BIS) is an international organization of central banks which exists to foster cooperation among central banks and other agencies in pursuit of monetary and financial stability. It carries out its work through subcommittees, the secretariats it hosts, and through its... The Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation is an organization created on June 25, 1992, to promote cooperation between its members, hoping to transform the BSEC into a regional economic organization. ... World Customs Organization (WCO) is an intergovernmental organization that helps member states communicate and cooperate on customs issues. ... The Palace of Europe in Strasbourg European Flag: used by the Council of Europe and by the European Union The Council of Europe (French: Conseil de lEurope , German: Europarat /ˌɔɪ.ˈro. ... CEI may stand for: Central European Initiative Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. ... CERN logo The European Organization for Nuclear Research (French: Organisation Européenne pour la Recherche Nucléaire), commonly known as CERN, is the worlds largest particle physics laboratory, situated just west of Geneva on the border between France and Switzerland. ... The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) is a NATO organization, a multilateral forum created to improve relations between NATO and non-NATO countries in Europe and those parts of Asia on the European periphery. ... The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) was founded in 1991 to promote private and entrepreneurial initiatives in the countries of central and eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). ... The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE or ECE) was established in 1947 to encourage economic cooperation among its member states. ... The European Investment Bank (the Banque Européenne dInvestissement) is the European Unions financing institution and was established under the Treaty of Rome (1957) to provide loan finance for capital investment furthering European Union policy objectives, in particular regional development, Trans-European Networks of transport, telecommunications and energy... In economics, a monetary union is a situation where several countries have agreed to share a single currency among them. ... The European Space Agency (ESA), established in 1975, is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 17 member states. ... FAO can mean: Food and Agriculture Organization Faro Airport (Portugal), IATA airport code For (The) Attention Of This page concerning a three-letter acronym or abbreviation is a disambiguation page—a list of articles associated with the same title. ... The Inter-American Development Bank (preferred abbreviation: IDB; but frequently given as IADB), was established in 1959 to support Latin American and Caribbean economic/social development and regional integration by lending mainly to public institutions. ... IAEA The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), established as an autonomous organization on July 29, 1957, seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for military purposes. ... The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, in Romance languages: BIRD), better known as the World Bank, is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by WWII. Now, its mission has expanded to fight poverty by means of financing states. ... The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations, develops the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. ... Official logo of the ICC. The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established in 2002 as a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, as defined by several international agreements, most prominently the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. ... The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is an international organization that works to promote and support global trade and globalization. ... Claiming 157 million members in 225 affiliated organisations in 148 countries and territories, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) came into being on December 7, 1949 following a split within the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). ... The Red Cross and the Red Crescent emblems, the symbols from which the Movement derives its name The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement whose stated mission is to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for the human being, and to prevent... The International Development Association (IDA) was created on September 24, 1960, is a UN specialized agency. ... The International Energy Agency (IEA, or AIE in Romance languages) is a Paris-based intergovernmental organization founded by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1974 in the wake of the oil crisis. ... The International Fund for Agricultural Development is an agency of the United Nations. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS) is an international humanitarian organisation, often better known as the Red Cross or the Red Crescent. ... The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations to deal with labour issues. ... The flag of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the international organization entrusted with overseeing the global financial system by monitoring foreign exchange rates and balance of payments, as well as offering technical and financial assistance when asked. ... Headquarters of the International Maritime Organisation in Lambeth, adjacent to the east end of Lambeth Bridge Headquarters building taken from the west side of the Thames Headquartered in London, U.K., the International Maritime Organization (IMO) promotes cooperation among governments and the shipping industry to improve maritime safety and to... Intelsat, Ltd. ... Interpol logo INTERPOL (or International Criminal Police Organization) was created in 1923 to assist international criminal police co-operation. ... Alternative meanings at IOC (disambiguation) The International Olympic Committee is an organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin in 1894 to reinstate the Ancient Olympic Games held in Greece, and organize this sports event every four years. ... The International Organization for Migration is an intergovernmental organisation. ... The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from national standards bodies. ... Monument in Bern, Switzerland. ... MINURSO is a UN peacekeeping mission, established in 1991 to monitor the ceasefire and to organize and conduct a referendum which would enable the people of Western Sahara to choose between integration with Morocco and independence. ... NAM stands for: National Association of Manufacturers Non-Aligned Movement Number Assignment Module Network Analysis Module National Assembly Member, a member of the National Assembly of The Gambia. ... The Nuclear Energy Agency is an intergovernmental multinational agency that is organized under the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. ... The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a multinational body concerned with reducing nuclear proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that may be applicable to nuclear weapon development and by improving safeguards and protection on existing materials. ... The Organization of American States (OAS; OEA in the other three official languages) is an international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA. Its members are the 35 independent nations of the Americas. ... The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organization of those developed countries that accept the principles of representative democracy and a free market economy. ... The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is an agency of the United Nations. ... The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is an international organization for security. ... The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), also known as the Hague Tribunal is an international organization based in The Hague in the Netherlands. ... Partnership for Peace is a NATO project aimed at creating trust between NATO and other states in Europe and the former Soviet Union. ... This article is about the United Nations, for other uses of UN see UN (disambiguation) Official languages English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic Secretary-General Kofi Annan (since 1997) Established October 24, 1945 Member states 191 Headquarters New York City, NY, USA Official site http://www. ... The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body, UNCTAD is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment and development issues. ... United Nations Disengagement Observer Force UNDOF was established by the United Nations by the Agreement on Disengagement between Israeli and Syrian Forces on the Golan Heights signed on May 31, 1974. ... UNESCO logo UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was established in 1964 to prevent a recurrence of fighting between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. ... Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (established December 14, 1950) protects and supports refugees at the request of a government or the United Nations and assists in their return or resettlement. ... United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is an agency of the United Nations with the mission of helping countries pursue sustainable industrial development, it is a specialist in industrial affairs. ... UNIKOM, the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission, was established on April 9, 1991 following the Gulf War by Security Council resolution 689 (1991) and fully deployed by early May. ... The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) was established in 1965 as an autonomous body within the United Nations with the purpose of enhancing the effectiveness of the Organization through appropriate training and research. ... The United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) is an international organization formed under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1035, as extended by Security Council Resolution 1357. ... The United Nations Mission in Kosovo or UNMIK is an interim civilian administration of the Serbian province (as part of Serbia and Montenegro) called Kosovo (officially Kosovo and Metohia), under the authority of the United Nations. ... The United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) was established on 24 August 1993 by Security Council Resolution 858 to verify compliance with the 27 July 1993, ceasefire agreement between the Republic of Georgia and forces in Abkhazia with special attention given to the situation in the city of Sukhumi... The UN Transitional Administration in East Timor provided an interim civil administration and a peacekeeping mission in the territory of East Timor. ... UNTSO is an acronym for United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, an organization founded in 1948 for peacekeeping in the Middle East. ... The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is a international organization that coordinates postal policies between member nations, and hence the world-wide postal system. ... WCL is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below: Washington College of Law, American Universitys law school in Washington, D.C. Water Closet, a European euphemism for a room in which toilet facilities are located. ... Not to be confused with the European Union, the Western European Union (WEU) is said by some to be a partially dormant European defence and security organization composed of those states members of both NATO and the EU. Interestingly, however, New York Universitys published work (Holyworth and Jolyon) Defending... The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) was established in the wake of the Second World War to bring together trade unions across the world in a single international organization, much like the United Nations. ... The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, acting as a coordinating authority on international public health, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ... The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations, and has as its core objectives the promotion of creative intellectual activity and the facilitation of the transfer of technology related to intellectual property to the developing countries in order to accelerate economic, social... The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 187 Member States and Territories. ... The World Tourism Organization (WTO) is a UN agency dealing with questions relating to tourism. ... For other uses of the initials WTO, see WTO (disambiguation). ... The Zangger Committee, also known as the Nuclear Exporters Committee, sprang from Article III.2 of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which entered into force on March 5, 1970. ...