General elections in 15th 2017

Results of the general elections on 15th October

Turnout: 79,5%

2 Political Parties No of votes won % of votes cast No of seats Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) 1 587 826 31,5 62

Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) 1 353 481 26,9 52

Liberal Party (FPÖ) 1 311 358 26 51

NEOS – New Austria 265 217 5,3 10

Peter Pilz List 220 656 4,4 8

The Greens-Alternative Green(DG) 190 092 3,8 0

Others 136 314 2,10 0

Source: Home Affairs Ministry https://wahl17.bmi.gv.at

“Voters have given us important responsibilities. We everything now points towards the return of the FPÖ have to be aware of this and we must also be aware of to office eleven years after being thrown out. An the hope that we represent. There is much to be done. alliance between the ÖVP and the FPÖ indeed seems We have to introduce a new style of politics in Austria. to be the most likely hypothesis. I want to try with all my might to bring change to the has never hidden the fact that he has sympathies country,” declared Sebastian Kurz when the results with the populists, notably regarding the migratory were announced. “We shall form a coalition for the next question, and declared during his campaign that he five years with the party that will enable us to provide was prepared to join forces with the FPÖ to win a the country with the greatest change,” indicated the majority in Parliament. “An alliance with the far right ÖVP’s Secretary General Elisabeth Köstinger. is the only alternative to a grand coalition. A left of centre majority has never existed in Austria,” declared “The Austrians fear immigration and the refugee crisis. Laurenz Ennser-Jedenastik, a political expert at the Sebastian Kurz was able to play on this fear,” analyses University of . Reinhard Heinisch, a political expert from the University of Salzburg. “Sebastian Kurz succeeded with a stroke The ÖVP governed with the FPÖ between 2000 and of genius, which was both tactical and strategic. He is 2006 under the leadership of Chancellor Wolfgang the representative of one of the biggest parties that Schüssel (ÖVP). The European Union then hit Austria have governed for several decades and he managed all with unprecedented political sanctions in a bid to isolate the same to represent alternation,” maintained Anton the populist party, led by Jörg Haider at the time, Pelinka, professor of political science at the University whose members had been appointed to the positions of Central Europe Budapest. “The liberal leader Heinz- of Vice-Chancellor, Finance Minister, Defence Minister, Christian Strache has been on the scene for the last Transport and Infrastructures Minister, Social Affairs eleven years and can no longer continually play the Ministers, as well as Secretary State for Health and provocateur. Sebastian Kurz succeeded in introducing a Tourism. For seven months the Austrian government dose of transgression into public debate without going and the country’s diplomats were isolated until the too far and by embodying the will for change,” stressed other Member States realised the unproductive Thibault Muzergues, European Director of International nature of the sanctions and decided to lift them on Republican Institute. 14th September 2000. Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel succeeded in transforming the EU’s ostracism into a The Austrians are tired of the governments held political advantage, rallying all Austrians behind his by the grand coalition of the ÖVP and the SPÖ, and government.

Political issues FONDATION ROBERT SCHUMAN / GENERAL ELECTIONS IN AUSTRIA / 15TH OCTOBER 2017 General elections in Austria 15th October 2017

FPÖ leader Heinz Christian Strache said that for his Critical of the open-door policy undertaken by German party he would claim several ministries including that Chancellor (Christian Democratic Union, of Home and also Foreign Affairs. CDU) in 2015 and also the agreement between the EU and Turkey over the migrants, against European distribution 3 Born in 1986 and from Vienna, Sebastian Kurz joined of migrants and the introduction of a community asylum the People’s Party (ÖVP) when he was 16. In 2009, policy, Sebastian Kurz, who is the representative of he gave up his law studies to take the leadership of the right-wing of the People’s Party (ÖVP), supports a the party’s youth section. The following year he was toughening of his country’s migratory policy. He has elected town councillor of Vienna. In April 2011 he said that he wanted to reduce the aid given to refugees. became Secretary of State for Integration. He entered At present each person who gets asylum in Austria Parliament with the elections of 29th September 2013 receives around 850€ per month. Kurz wants to reduce and was appointed Europe, Integration and Foreign this to 560€. He hopes to bring economic migration to Affairs Minister in the government led by Werner an end and to increase controls on the EU’s external Faymann (SPÖ), who was replaced by borders. He wants to close the Balkans route, used by in 2016. migrants arriving from Greece. He also hopes to end EU After the general elections on 15th October 2017 the membership negotiations with Turkey. man people like to call the Milchbubi (Baby Face) or Wunderwuzzi (Wonder Hotshot) is about to become Once the final results are released Austrian Head of State the youngest chancellor in Austria’s history and more will ask Sebastian Kurz to start widely the youngest leader in Europe. negotiations in view of forming a stable government.

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FONDATION ROBERT SCHUMAN / GENERAL ELECTIONS IN AUSTRIA / 15TH OCTOBER 2017 Political issues