2013 Austrian legislative election

Legislative elections were held in Austria on 29 September 2013 to elect the 25th National Council, the lower house of Austria's bicameral parliament.Regierung legt sich fest: Wahl am 29. September - Die Presse, 21 February 2013

The parties of the ruling grand coalition, the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) and Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), suffered losses, but placed first and second respectively and retained their combined majority. The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) won 20.5%, an increase of three percentage points, and The Greens achieved their best result up to this point with 12.4% and 24 seats. With the collapse of the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ), which fell below the 4% electoral threshold and lost all its seats, two new parties entered the National Council: Team Stronach with 5.7% and NEOS with 5.0%.

The elections saw considerable change in the composition of the National Council; the ruling grand coalition won its lowest combined share of the popular vote in history. The coalition was nonetheless renewed, and Werner Faymann of the SPÖ remained Chancellor.

Background The government is a grand coalition between Austria's two largest parties, the SPÖ and ÖVP, who rule with the SPÖ's Werner Faymann as Chancellor. Support for both governing parties has fallen marginally since the 2008 election. The Freedom Party (FPÖ) and Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) made significant gains in the previous election, but while the FPÖ gained support after the 2008 election, the BZÖ shrank after the death of its founder Jörg Haider and taking a turn toward liberalism. Additionally, nine of the BZÖ's 21 elected members to the National Council changed their party affiliation during the term: five members joined the Team Stronach, while four joined the FPÖ. Team Stronach, funded by Austrian-Canadian businessman Frank Stronach, has emerged as an anti-euro alternative and eventually started to hurt the FPÖ's standing in the polls. The Greens have solidified their position as the fourth-largest party in opinion polls.

Contesting parties The table below lists parties represented in the 24th National Council. Name Ideology Leader 2008 result Votes (%) Seats SPÖ Social Democratic Party of Austria Social democracy Werner Faymann 29.3% ÖVP Austrian People's Party Christian democracy Michael Spindelegger 26.0% FPÖ Freedom Party of Austria Right-wing populismEuroscepticism Heinz-Christian Strache 17.5% BZÖ Alliance for the Future of Austria National conservatismRight-wing populism Josef Bucher 10.7% GRÜNE The Greens Green politics Eva Glawischnig-Piesczek 10.4%

Qualified parties In addition to the parties already represented in the National Council, nine parties collected enough signatures to be placed on the ballot. Four of these were cleared to be on the ballot in all states, five of them only in some.Nationalratswahl 2013 - Abgeschlossene und veröffentlichte Landeswahlvorschläge - bmi.gv.at, 8 August 2013

On the ballot in all 9 states Team Stronach (FRANK) NEOS Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ) Pirate Party of Austria (PIRAT)

On the ballot in some states only Christian Party of Austria (CPÖ) - on the ballot only in Upper Austria, Styria, Vorarlberg and Burgenland The Change (Der Wandel) - on the ballot only in Vienna and Upper Austria Socialist Left Party (SLP) - on the ballot only in Vienna EU Exit Party (EU-Austrittspartei) - on the ballot only in Vorarlberg Men's Party of Austria (Männerpartei Österreichs) - on the ballot only in Vorarlberg

Campaign Issues included corruption scandals across the main parties and Austria's relative financial stability facing a probable crisis.Austrians voting general elections Al Jazeera 29 September 2013

Opinion polling

Recent opinion polls Agency/SourceDate SPÖ ÖVP FPÖ Greens Stronach BZÖ NEOS Pirates KPÖ Others Gallup/Neos.eu2013-09-23 27% 23% 21% 14% 6% 3% 4% 1% 1% - OGM/Kurier2013-09-21 27% 22% 21% 14% 6% 4% 4% 1% 1% - Market/Der Standard2013-09-20 26% 23% 19% 15% 7% 4% 3% 1% 1% 1% Gallup/Österreich2013-09-20 27% 23% 20% 14% 7% 2.5% 3.5% 1% 1% 1% Karmasin/Heute2013-09-20 27% 23% 21% 14% 7% 2% 3% 1.5% 1.5% - Hajek/ATV2013-09-19 27% 23% 20% 15% 7% 3% 3% 1% 1% 1% Meinunungsraum/Neos.eu2013-09-19 28% 24% 19% 15% 7% 2% 4% - - 1% Market/Standard2013-09-15 26% 22% 20% 15% 9% 3% 2% 1% 1% 1% Spectra/Oberösterreichische Nachrichten2013-09-14 26% 23% 20% 13% 9% 4% 1.5% - - 3.5% Karmasin/Profil 2013-09-14 28% 25% 20% 15% 6% 2% 3% - - 1% Gallup/Österreich2013-09-13 28% 25% 20% 15% 7% 1% 3% 1% - - Gallup/Österreich2013-09-06 28% 24% 19% 15% 8% 2% 2% 1% 1% - OGM/Kurier2013-08-31 27% 24% 20% 15% 7% 3% 2% 1% - 1% 2013-08-31 28% 24% 20% 15% 7% 2% 1% - - 3% Market/Standard2013-08-30 26% 22% 19% 16% 9% 3% 2% 1% 1% 1% Gallup/Österreich2013-08-30 28% 23% 19% 15% 9% 2% 2% 1% 1% - Meinungsraum/NEWS2013-08-29 27% 24% 19% 14% 8% 2% 3% 2% - 1% Spectra/Vorarlberger Nachrichten 2013-08-24 27% 25% 19% 14% 7% 3% - - - 5% Gallup/Österreich2013-08-23 28% 24% 18% 15% 9% 2% 2% 1% 1% - Karmasin/Heute 2013-08-23 28% 25% 20% 15% 7% 1% 2% 1% 1% - Market/Standard2013-08-15 26% 24% 18% 15% 9% 3% 2% 1% 1% 1% IMAS/Kronen Zeitung2013-08-10 27% 25% 20% 13% 9% 3% - - - 3% Karmasin/Profil 2013-08-10 28% 25% 18% 16% 7% 3% - - - 3% Gallup/Österreich2013-08-09 28% 25% 17% 16% 8% 2% 2% 1% 1% - Meinungsraum/Neos.eu2013-08-08 26% 24% 20% 13% 9% 2% 3% 2% 1% -

Older opinion polls Agency/SourceDate SPÖ ÖVP FPÖ BZÖ Greens KPÖ Pirates Stronach Others Karmasin/Profil 2012-03-10 29% 24% 26% 3% 13% - - - 5% Gallup/Ö24 2012-03-11 29% 25% 27% 3% 13% - - - 3% Gallup/Ö24 2012-03-24 28% 23% 28% 3% 14% - - - 4% Karmasin/Profil 2012-04-05 29% 23% 27% 2% 13% - - - 6% Gallup/Ö24 2012-04-22 27% 22% 28% 3% 14% - 6% - - 2012-04-23 27% 23% 27% 3% 13% - - - 7% Gallup/Ö24 2012-05-12 26% 21% 27% 3% 13% - 7% - 3% Market/Standard 2012-05-19 29% 22% 27% 5% 14% - - - 3% Gallup/Ö24 2012-05-26 27% 22% 26% 3% 14% - 5% - 3% Karmasin/Profil 2012-06-02 30% 25% 24% 3% 12% - - - 6% Gallup/Ö24 2012-06-09 28% 23% 24% 3% 14% - 6% - 2% Gallup/Ö24 2012-06-16 28% 24% 23% 2% 12% - 7% - 4% OGM/Kurier 2012-06-16 29% 25% 25% 3% 14% - - - 4% Market/Standard 2012-06-24 28% 23% 27% 5% 14% - - - 3% Peter Hajek/ATV 2012-06-29 30% 25% 25% 5% 12% - - - 3% Karmasin/Profil 2012-06-30 29% 23% 24% 4% 13% - - - 7% Gallup/Ö24 2012-06-30 28% 23% 24% 3% 12% - 7% - 3% Gallup/Ö24 2012-07-08 28% 22% 23% 3% 12% - 5% 4% 3% Gallup/Ö24 2012-07-21 28% 21% 23% 2% 12% - 5% 6% 3% Gallup/Ö24 2012-08-04 29% 21% 21% 2% 12% - 6% 6% 3% Gallup/Ö24 2012-08-18 28% 21% 20% 3% 14% - 4% 8% 2% Market/Standard 2012-08-19 30% 23% 21% 4% 16% - - - 6% Karmasin/Profil 2012-08-25 29% 23% 21% 2% 14% - - 7% 4% Gallup/Ö24 2012-08-26 29% 22% 20% 2% 14% - 3% 9% 1% Market/Standard 2012-08-31 30% 24% 21% 3% 15% - - - 7% Gallup/Ö24 2012-09-01 28% 21% 20% 3% 14% - 2% 10% 2% Gallup/Ö24 2012-09-10 28% 23% 20% 2% 13% - 2% 10% 2% OGM/Kurier 2012-09-16 28% 23% 23% 3% 12% - - 6% 5% Market/Standard 2012-09-20 29% 23% 21% 4% 16% - - 6% 5% Gallup/Ö24 2012-09-23 27% 23% 21% 2% 14% - 3% 9% 1% meinungsraum.at 2012-09-26 27% 19% 21% 3% 15% - 3% 9% 3% Gallup/Ö24 2012-09-28 26% 23% 20% 2% 14% - 2% 12% - Gallup/Ö24 2012-10-06 26% 22% 21% 2% 14% - 2% 12% - Market/Standard 2012-10-10 28% 22% 20% 2% 16% - - 10% 2% Karmasin/Profil 2012-10-19 25% 23% 22% 2% 15% - - 10% - Gallup/Ö24 2012-10-21 25% 22% 22% 2% 15% - 2% 11% - Gallup/Ö24 2012-10-27 25% 22% 22% 2% 15% - - 11% - Market/Standard 2012-10-28 27% 23% 22% 1% 15% - - 10% - Gallup/Ö24 2012-11-11 26% 23% 21% 2% 14% - 2% 11% - Karmasin/Profil 2012-11-17 27% 24% 21% 2% 13% - - 10% - Gallup/Ö24 2012-11-24 27% 22% 21% 1% 15% - 2% 10% - Karmasin/Profil 2012-11-30 27% 22% 22% - 14% 1% - 8% 3% Gallup/Ö24 2012-12-01 27% 23% 19% 1% 13% 4% 1% 11% 2% Karmasin/Profil 2012-12-18 28% 24% 21% 1% 13% - - 2% Gallup/Ö24 2012-12-19 27% 23% 20% 1% 14% - 1% 11% 3% Gallup/Ö24 2012-12-30 27% 23% 21% 1% 14% - 1% 10% 3% Market/Standard 2013-01-02 27% 24% 23% 2% 14% 1% 1% 7% 1% Gallup/Ö24 2013-01-13 28% 23% 20% 1% 14% 2% 1% 10% 1% Gallup/Ö24 2013-01-26 27% 25% 21% 1% 13% 2% 1% 9% 1% Gallup/Ö24 2013-02-09 27% 25% 21% 1% 14% 2% 1% 8% 1% Gallup/Ö24 2013-02-19 28% 25% 21% 1% 14% 1% 1% 8% 2% Karmasin/Heute 2013-02-22 27% 24% 23% 3% 12% 1% - 10% - Gallup/Ö24 2013-02-24 27% 25% 22% 2% 13% 1% - 9% 1% Gallup/Ö24 2013-03-07 28% 25% 20% 2% 13% 1% - 10% 1% Market/Standard 2013-03-15 26% 24% 20% 2% 14% 1% - 9% 3% Market/Standard 2013-04-01 26% 24% 19% 4% 14% - - 10% 3% Karmasin/Heute 2013-04-05 27% 24% 19% 2% 14% 2% 1% 9% - Gallup/Ö24 2013-04-07 27% 25% 19% 1% 14% 1% 1% 9% - Karmasin/Profil 2013-04-20 28% 25% 19% 1% 13% - - 10% - Gallup/Ö24 2013-04-20 27% 24% 19% 2% 13% 1% 1% 10% - Karmasin/Heute 2013-05-03 28% 24% 19% 2% 14% 1% 1% 8% 3% Market/Standard 2013-05-10 25% 24% 19% 2% 16% - 2% 10% 2% Karmasin/Profil 2013-05-16 26% 25% 18% 2% 16% - - 10% 3% Gallup/Ö24 2013-05-29 27% 25% 18% 2% 15% 1% 1% 9% 2% Karmasin/Heute2013-06-01 27% 25% 18% 1% 16% - - 10% 3% Gallup/Ö24 2013-06-14 28% 25% 18% 2% 14% 1% 1% 9% 2% Karmasin/Profil2013-06-15 27% 24% 18% 2% 15% - - 8% 6% Gallup/Ö242013-07-28 27% 25% 18% 15% 8% 2% - 1% - 4% Karmasin/Heute2013-07-26 27% 25% 19% 14% 9% 2% 2% 1% 1% - IMAS/Krone2013-07-21 27% 25% 19% 13% 10% 2.5% - - - 3.5% Spectra/OÖN2013-07-20 27% 24% 18% 14% 10% 2% - - - 5% Market/Standard2013-07-19 25% 24% 19% 15% 9% 3% - - - 5% Gallup/Ö242013-07-13 27% 24% 18% 15% 8% 2% - 2% - 3% Karmasin/Profil 2013-07-13 28% 25% 18% 15% 7% 3% - - - 4% Market/Standard2013-07-07 26% 24% 19% 16% 8% 2% - 2% 1% 2% OGM/Kurier2013-07-07 27% 24% 19% 15% 8% 3% - - - 4%

Results

Results by state State SPÖ ÖVP FPÖ Grüne TS NEOS BZÖ Others Turnout 37.3 26.8 17.4 6.8 5.9 2.8 2.0 1.2 82.8 32.4 15.2 17.9 11.8 6.9 3.7 10.8 1.3 72.5 27.6 30.6 18.8 9.6 4.7 4.5 2.7 1.5 81.0 27.2 25.4 21.4 12.2 4.8 3.4 3.5 2.1 78.3 23.0 26.7 21.2 14.8 5.2 4.6 3.2 1.3 74.5 23.8 20.9 24.0 10.6 10.0 3.9 3.9 2.9 75.4 18.3 32.3 19.4 15.2 5.6 4.9 3.0 1.4 67.0 13.1 26.3 20.2 17.0 5.3 13.1 2.4 2.5 65.9 31.6 14.5 20.6 16.4 3.9 7.6 2.4 3.0 69.7 26.8 24.0 20.5 12.4 5.7 5.0 3.5 2.1 74.9 Source: Austrian Interior Ministry

Preference votes Alongside votes for a party, voters were able to cast a preferential votes for a candidate on the party list. The ten candidates with the most preferential votes on a federal level were as follows:

Party Candidate Votes ÖVP 3 Sebastian Kurz 35,728 FPÖ 1 Heinz-Christian Strache 28,635 ÖVP 1 Michael Spindelegger 25,258 SPÖ 1 Werner Faymann 21,253 GRÜNE 1 Eva Glawischnig-Piesczek 19,582 SPÖ 38 Resul Ekrem Gönültas 12,715 GRÜNE 48 Karl Öllinger 8,031 BZÖ 1 Josef Bucher 5,359 NEOS 1 Matthias Strolz 5,007 GRÜNE 4 Peter Pilz 4,393

Government formation The "grand coalition" of SPÖ and ÖVP retained their majority.Governing coalition slips election Al Jazeera 29 September 2013 While the SPÖ were keen to renew the coalition, the ÖVP also considered the possibility of a coalition with the FPÖ and another smaller party.Austria coalition vote Yahoo! On October 14, the SPÖ and the ÖVP agreed to start coalition talks with each other,Austria's biggest parties agree coalition talks Reuters, Oct. 14 and on December 16, the second Faymann cabinet was formed by the SPÖ and the ÖVP.

2013 Austrian legislative election

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