Social Democrats win Austrian elections

[woodie]

Apparently against expectations, the Social Democrats look likely to lead the next General Election, in coalition with the Greens or as head of a grand coalition with the People's Party after the weekend general election.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1 ... 33,00.html

[jady88]

Apparently against expectations, the Social Democrats look likely to lead the next General Election, in coalition with the Greens or as head of a grand coalition with the People's Party after the weekend general election.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1 ... 33,00.html

well good for the Austrian people, they have voted for a traditionally leftist party which is now so far to the centre they are practically right wing. I sometimes wonder if people can even decipher who and what they are voting for nowadays.

[Munion]

An unlikely win by all accounts.

The People's Party could form a government in coalition with the far-right Freedom Party but they announced before the election that they would not do this even if it meant a term on the opposition benches. They must be applauded for that.

[BarryW]

The People's Party could form a government in coalition with the far-right Freedom Party but they announced before the election that they would not do this even if it meant a term on the opposition benches. They must be applauded for that.

Perhaps that was a flawed strategy then....?
At the last election (2002 or 2003?) the OVP managed to weaken the Freedom Party hugely by killing them with kindness, making pledges to the people which made voters see the Freedom Party as irrelevant - and robbing their votes in the process. Kind of similar to what FF did to the PDs in 1997

[eurocrat]

The People's Party could form a government in coalition with the far-right Freedom Party but they announced before the election that they would not do this even if it meant a term on the opposition benches.

Well thats a new policy. They have quite happily coalesed with them in the past.

The OVP have lost votes to the far right. Their loss of 8 pts has been taken up laregly by the combined far right incrase of 5pts. The BZO and FPO are the far right parites by the way. The BZO being Jorg Haiders new party and the FPO being HC Strache (a nasty Haider clone) party. I have written about the later on these boards in the past.

Overall turnout was down a full 10% from a 84% to 74%, still quite healthy it must be said. Regional recults were varied with Veinna being the SPO (Social Democrat) power base and the Western Alplen Lands being OVP (conservative) strongholds.

A grand coalition appears to be the only practible outcome. This is not unusal in Austria. The real question is whether Schüssel will enter government as Vice-Chancellor. During the election he rejected the idea but his position has softened somewhat since the results came in yesterday evening.

[kerrynorth]

Apparently against expectations, the Social Democrats look likely to lead the next General Election, in coalition with the Greens or as head of a grand coalition with the People's Party after the weekend general election.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1 ... 33,00.html

I would not be so sure. The anti-immigration parties polled a combined 15.4% up 50% on the 10% for the Freedom Party alone last time. Schussels CD's + the FP and Haider's group could form a government. Although, Schussel had previously ruled this out I bet political reality will take over with the possibilty of goverment in the offing. In order to hold onto power what is the betting the the CD's will act in the "national interest" (i.e. their own self interest) to form a centre-right government. I really hope to see Jorg Haider back in government. :wink:

[eurocrat]

I would not be so sure. The anti-immigration parties polled a combined 15.4% up 50% on the 10% for the Freedom Party alone last time. Schussels CD's + the FP and Haider's group could form a government. Although, Schussel had previously ruled this out I bet political reality will take over with the possibilty of goverment in the offing. In order to hold onto power what is the betting the the CD's will act in the "national interest" (i.e. their own self interest) to form a centre-right government. I really hope to see Jorg Haider back in government. :wink:

#

The two right wing parties would not be able to work together. They just recently spilt. Would be like asking SF to work work another type of SF. Far too volitile.

Here is how the seats break down:


The FPO/BZO had 21 seats entering parliament last time. At the split 19 left to join the BZO. You can't really say that the BZO have lost seats however, since this is their first election.

Also, Haider is a total nut job. Trust me I have seen and read enough of him. He support is almost exclusivly based in Carinthia (25% and 2nd biggest), an isolated provience that is often the butt of other Austrains jokes. Outside of there his party failed to get over the 4% hurdle. The FPO support was far more consistant regionally.

[forest]

well good for the Austrian people, they have voted for a traditionally leftist party which is now so far to the centre they are practically right wing. I sometimes wonder if people can even decipher who and what they are voting for nowadays.

Thats rich comming from one involved in Irish politics

[kerrynorth]

I would not be so sure. The anti-immigration parties polled a combined 15.4% up 50% on the 10% for the Freedom Party alone last time. Schussels CD's + the FP and Haider's group could form a government. Although, Schussel had previously ruled this out I bet political reality will take over with the possibilty of goverment in the offing. In order to hold onto power what is the betting the the CD's will act in the "national interest" (i.e. their own self interest) to form a centre-right government. I really hope to see Jorg Haider back in government. :wink:

#

The two right wing parties would not be able to work together. They just recently spilt. Would be like asking SF to work work another type of SF. Far too volitile.

Or maybe FF/PD as in 1989 with Dessie and CJH

[Liberal333]

So the Liberal Forum didn't get seats again?