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2008 Austrian legislative election

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A legislative snap election for the National Council in Austria will be held on 28 September 2008.[1] The last election was held on 1 October 2006. The election (the 24th in Austrian history) was caused by the withdrawal of Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) leader Wilhelm Molterer from the governing grand coalition (led by the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ)) on 7 July 2008.[2] Due to dissatisfaction with the grand coalition and the two main parties, it was widely expected to be a realigning election, with up to seven parties expected to be in the National Council after the election.[3][4]

Background

On 11 January 2007, the Gusenbauer cabinet (a grand coalition of SPÖ and ÖVP) was sworn into office. The newly formed government was criticised from the beginning from parts of the opposition and left-wing circles in the SPÖ for having failed to push through in the coalition negotiations most of the pledges and promises made in the election campaign.

The SPÖ began to fall back in the polls almost immediately. The government was frequently unable to agree on important decisions: The SPÖ demanded an antedated tax reform in 2009 instead of in 2010, which the ÖVP disagreed on;[5] the proposal to help households hit by inflation with a tax gift of €100 was also denied by the ÖVP.[6] The coalition partners also disagreed on the badly necessary health system reform.[7] In the Tyrolean state election on 8 June 2008 the former ÖVP member Fritz Dinkhauser led his newly founded Citizens' Forum to become the second-largest party, causing large losses to ÖVP and SPÖ and small losses to the Greens. Following this, internal criticism within the SPÖ of Gusenbauer grew, leading to the decision to designate infrastructure minister Werner Faymann as its new party leader. According to the plans at that time, Gusenbauer would have remained the leading candidate in the 2010 elections.[8]

On 26 June 2008, Faymann and Gusenbauer wrote a letter to the editor of the leading Austrian tabloid Kronen Zeitung, declaring they were in favour of referendums on important EU topics, like new treaties after the already ratified Treaty of Lisbon or the accession of Turkey to the European Union. They did this without seeking the approval of either the party leadership or their coalition partner ÖVP; it was widely perceived by Austrian and foreign media as a populist action and submission to the anti-European Kronen Zeitung, which had been conducting anti-EU campaigns for years.[9] On 7 July 2008, ÖVP leader Wilhelm Molterer declared that he could not continue to work with the SPÖ. The ÖVP declared as the main reasons for the snap elections the change in the SPÖ's position on Europe and the planned dual leadership in the SPÖ, which the ÖVP claimed would make agreement on difficult issues even harder.

The snap election was officially called in a parliamentary session on 9 July 2008 through a joint resolution by SPÖ, ÖVP and Greens, which FPÖ and BZÖ supported;[10] the election date of 28 September 2008 was confirmed by the government and the main committee on 10 July 2008.[11]

The age required to have the right to vote had been reduced from 18 to 16 prior to the election in an electoral law reform, which also introduced easier access to postal balloting and lengthened the legislative term from four to five years.[12] Another change is that different list names in the different states are no longer possible; the BZÖ stood under a different name in Carinthia than in the rest of Austria in 2006.[13] Turnout is expected to increase from the all-time low of 78.5% in 2006; more than 80% are expected to participate in the election.[14]

The Swiss Neue Zürcher Zeitung stated that Dinkhauser had "with hindsight been the first link in a chain of causation which led to the early elections, even though he had only wanted to force open the incrusted political landscape in Tyrol". (Rückblickend wurde damit der Tiroler Dinkhauser, der mit seiner «Liste Fritz» eigentlich nur die verkrusteten Verhältnisse in Tirol aufsprengen wollte, zum ersten Glied jener Kausalkette, die zu der Ankündigung vorgezogener Neuwahlen geführt hat.)[15]

Parties

Parliamentary parties

Social Democratic Party of Austria

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SPÖ logo

The Social Democratic Party of Austria will be lead by infrastructure minister Werner Faymann and not by the incumbent chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer, as the party decided to have a single person as party leader and leading candidate again.[16] Faymann officially became party leader on 8 August 2008.[17] The SPÖ has announced it will not form a coalition with the FPÖ.[18] On 20 July 2008, Faymann announced he would prefer it if Molterer would not be part of the next government, but also stated he was open to a new attempt at a grand coalition with new personalities.[19]

President Heinz Fischer (also from the SPÖ) said that he understood the need for early elections and stated that he would be open to three-party governments and minority governments (both of which would be a first in Austrian political history, but will likely be necessary to avoid another grand coalition).[20]

Austrian People's Party

File:Logo 4c.png
ÖVP logo

The Austrian People's Party will go into the election with vice chancellor Wilhelm Molterer as its leader.[21] The ÖVP has stated it will try to form a three-party coalition before attempting another grand coalition, though some internal voices have dissented from that;[22] the ÖVP has also not explicitly ruled out a coalition with FPÖ or BZÖ, but has stated that its coalition partners would have to be clearly supportive of the EU,[23] thus strongly indicating a preference for a coalition with the Greens. Former ÖVP leader and former chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel stated on 1 August 2008 that he was against a coalition involving Faymann's SPÖ, but also claimed that there would be a "change of thinking" (Umdenken) in the SPÖ after the election. President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber Christoph Leitl, well-known for his preference of the grand coalition, refused to state his preferences before the election.[24] Some (especially ÖVP members in Vorarlberg) voiced their preference for another ÖVP-FPÖ coalition.[25]

Molterer was considered to be under strong internal pressure; the party leaders from Lower Austria (Erwin Pröll), Upper Austria (Josef Pühringer) and Styria (Hermann Schützenhöfer) have all criticised his leadership at some point,[26] though they later stated they had set their differences aside.[27]

The Greens – The Green Alternative

Greens' logo

The Greens – The Green Alternative are lead by long-time chairman Alexander Van der Bellen. They have stated that they're in favour of the snap election, as no work could be done in the current government; their main goal is to be strong enough to be a viable coalition partner for either of the two main parties.[28] The Greens have ruled out a coalition with the FPÖ and appear highly critical of a coalition including the BZÖ and, to a lesser degree, the Citizens' Forum and the ÖVP.[29]

Green politicians have stated that the ÖVP would have to change in order for a black-green coalition to be a possibility from their side, especially regarding the abuse of power, the distribution of important offices to people closely related to the ÖVP, the illegal distribution of confidential data and other issues.[30][31][32] In general, green politicians have stated that they are very much interested in a black-green "experiment"; a red-green coalition is also seen as possible, but the SPÖ's new position on the EU may prove to be a problem.[33]

According to the polls from mid-July, a black-green or red-green coalition would not be possible, but a coalition involving Dinkhauser's list might be. The Greens have stated they would like to cooperate with the LIF and that they do not rule out a coalition with Dinkhauser.

Freedom Party of Austria

File:FP LOGO rgb.png
FPÖ logo

The Freedom Party of Austria is lead by Heinz-Christian Strache, who has criticised the snap elections and demanded the coalition partners should bear the administrative costs of the early elections.[34] The FPÖ has not explicitly ruled out a coalition with anyone, although it claimed the ÖVP was trying to "murder" it and the SPÖ was watching from the sidelines. Strache has however stated that he does not want to work together with either Molterer or Faymann and that he hoped both large parties would lose enough votes to cause a change of party leadership.[35] The FPÖ has stated its goals are to become the third-largest party again and to become strong enough to break the two-thirds majority which SPÖ and ÖVP have held together since 1945.[36]

Alliance for the Future of Austria

File:BZÖ Logo.png
BZÖ logo

The Alliance for the Future of Austria was initially assumed to be lead by Peter Westenthaler,[37] but it was later announced that he would not be the leading candidate.[38] Westenthaler's position was endangered as he was before the courts both for false testimony in a case dating back to 2006 and for personal injury of a policeman after a UEFA Euro 2008 match, where he hit a policeman with his car slightly injuring the policeman's knee. Westenthaler disdained all these investigations and claimed they were smear campaigns by SPÖ, ÖVP and/or FPÖ; he stated that it was his choice whether he would lead the BZÖ or whether somebody else would do it, and that the decision would be made by the end of July.[39] A judgment on the issue of false testimony was handed down on 29 July 2008; Westenthaler faced up to three years' prison, but received a suspended sentence of nine months, which he appealed immediately. On the same day, it was announced that Westenthaler would not be the BZÖ's leading candidate.[40][41] He would, however, be on the lists on a safe place and thus likely would remain an MP;[42] he also announced he would remain party leader, although this was later contradicted.[43] The BZÖ's reaction to the judgment (it claimed the judgment was politically motivated) was heavily criticised by the media, especially as the BZÖ's party program has a strong law and order character.[44] Westenthaler's claims that he would also be the leading candidate in Vienna were criticised by one of the two factions in the Viennese BZÖ, who threatened to refuse to campaign for the BZÖ in case Westenthaler would be the Viennese leading candidate.[45]

Reportedly, former vice-chancellor Susanne Riess-Passer was being lobbied to enter politics again.[46] Riess-Passer clearly stated she was not interested in any way.[47] Rumours that Carinthian governor Jörg Haider himself might be the leading candidate were initially denied.[48] Deputy leader Stefan Petzner stated on 28 July 2008 that the leading candidate would be a "small sensation" and that his identity would be announced by mid-August.[49] There were rumours that the leading candidate might be independent MP Ewald Stadler, who left the FPÖ and was formerly Volksanwalt.[50] On 30 July 2008 Petzner stated he could "neither confirm nor deny" reports that Haider would be the leading candidate, but that Haider would certainly be more active in federal politics in the future.[51] On 1 August 2008, FPÖ secretary-general Harald Vilismky strongly attacked Stadler.[52]

It appeared on 2 August 2008 that Stadler's possible candicacy had been a rumour deliberately circulated by the BZÖ[53] in order to make it more of a surprise that Haider would be the leading candidate.[54] Haider stated he would not be against becoming party leader, but emphasised that he would remain governor of Carinthia and would not become an MP, while not ruling out becoming the leading candidate, though he insisted that if so, he would become the BZÖ's "chancellor candidate";[55] Westenthaler at the same time stated Haider would become party leader and leading candidate, and claimed that 15% of the votes were possible with Haider as leading candidate.[56] On 2 August 2008, Westenthaler stated he was considering a complete withdrawal from politics after handing over to his successor.[57] Both Haider and Westenthaler said on the same day that they had talked with Stadler; Haider said it was up to Westenthaler to decide whether Stadler would be leading candidate or not, but that relations between him and Stadler had now bettered again, while Westenthaler stated that Stadler might be a candidate for the BZÖ but would not be leading candidate.[58] In an interview Haider gave to Österreich on 3 August 2008, he confirmed he would be the leading candidate.[59] The party would stand under the name "BZÖ – Jörg Haider's List" (BZÖ – Liste Jörg Haider), and Haider explicitly repeated that he would only be a chancellor candidate and that the second politician on the federal candidate list would become chief of the parliamentary club in the National Council, not him, and reopened speculation that Stadler might be the second leading candidate of the BZÖ.[60] Petzner confirmed on the same date that Haider would officially become BZÖ leader and leading candidate on 30 August 2008.[61] BZÖ secretary-general Gerald Grosz announced that the party's goal was to gain at least 7% of votes,[62] while Haider said he would like to double the BZÖ's votes from 4% to 8%.[60]

The BZÖ is reported to be trying to convince a number of former ministers and state secretaries to return to politics, among them Herbert Scheibner (former defence minister), Elisabeth Sickl, Herbert Haupt and Ursula Haubner (all former social ministers). Former president of the Court of Auditors Franz Fiedler has also been contacted.[63] Reportedly, Westenthaler is not being calculated on any longer.

Extraparliamentary parties

Apart from the five parties represented in parliament with their own parliamentary groups (SPÖ, ÖVP, Greens, FPÖ, BZÖ) and the Communist Party of Austria, which has contested all elections in Austria since 1945, a number of other parties stated they planned to or were considering contesting the election. Parties require either the signatures of 3 MPs or the signatures 2,600 citizens (proportionally divided among the different states: 100 in Burgenland and Vorarlberg, 200 in Carinthia, Salzburg and Tyrol, 400 in Styria and Upper Austria and 500 in Lower Austria and Vienna) between 29 July 2008 and 22 August 2008 in order to stand.[64] The signatures have to come from citizens who are eligible to vote in the election; one can only support one party per election through one's signature, and the statement of support has to be signed at the town hall in front of an official. In addition, parties have to pay a fee of €435 to cover printing costs in each state, for a total of €3,915 to contest the election in all states.[65]

Liberal Forum

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LIF logo

The Liberal Forum, represented in parliament from 2006 to 2008 by Alexander Zach as a single MP in the SPÖ's parliamentary group thanks to a pre-election agreement with the SPÖ prior to the 2006 election, announced it would contest the election, though it did not initially state whether Zach, LIF founder Heide Schmidt or well-known manager Hans-Peter Haselsteiner would be leading the electoral list;[66][67] analysts asserted that either Schmidt or Haselsteiner would have to be the main candidate in order for the LIF to have a chance of gaining the required 4%.[68][69] Analysts were divided on whether the LIF had a chance of entering parliament.[70][71][72] The LIF announced, after preparatory party meetings on 12 July and 13 July 2008, that it was structurally and financially prepared to contest the election, but that the decision on whether it would actually participate hinged on the location of appropriate candidates;[73] on 15 July 2008, the LIF announced it would stand, and that it would officially announce its main candidate by 28 July 2008.[74] On 23 July 2008 it was announced that the leading candidate had been determined, and that a presentation of the political program and the candidate list would take place on 25 July 2008.[75] On 25 July 2008 it was announced that Schmidt would lead the LIF into the elections, and that Haselsteiner would be the economy spokesman.[76] The election campaign budget was announced to be €1.5 million.[77]

File:EnotnalistaLogo.png
EL logo

It was announced on 30 July 2008 that Rudi Vouk, lawyer and activist of the Carinthian Slovenes, one of the most outspoken critics of Jörg Haider, would be the leading candidate of the LIF in Carinthia and would be the LIF's constitutional law spokesman. Vouk is also a member of the Enotna lista,[78] which announced its support for the LIF; it had also previously been a partner of the LIF in the 1990s.[79] The BZÖ claimed the candidacy of Vouk amounted to a "declaration of war" against them.[80]

Besides Schmidt and Haselsteiner, there were unconfirmed rumours that two other people might appear as LIF candidates: former justice minister Karin Gastinger, who left the BZÖ over Westenthaler's comments about deportation about immigrants in the 2006 election campaigning, and Josef Broukal, the former ORF newsanchor who joined the SPÖ, became its university spokesman and left shortly after the early elections were called (because the SPÖ decided not to abolish university tuition fees together with Greens and FPÖ, deciding to adhere to the coalition pact signed with the ÖVP despite the ÖVP's decision to withdraw from the coalition). Former short-time LIF leader Christian Köck had also been mentioned as a possible candidate.

MEP Karin Resetarits, who was elected on Hans-Peter Martin's List in the 2004 European Parliament election, but later fell out with him and joined the LIF, announced on 17 July 2008 she would participate in the campaign, but did not want to go into national Austrian politics as she wanted to serve out her term in the European Parliament until June 2009 (if she were to resign, the mandate would next have to be offered to the next person on the electoral list of Hans-Peter Martin's List in 2004).[81] It was also announced on that date that former SPÖ member of the students' council Barbara Blaha, who left the SPÖ over its failure to abolish university tuition fees, had been approached by the LIF, but that Blaha had declined to join the LIF.[82]

Citizens' Forum, Save Austria and the Whites

The Citizens' Forum of Fritz Dinkhauser, which had just become the second-largest party in Tyrol in the Tyrolean state election on 8 June 2008, will contest the election, at least in Tyrol, possibly nationally. He expected his movement to be joined by unionists, economists, mayors and doctors from across the country.[83] Leading members of the ÖVP demanded that Dinkhauser should leave the ÖVP, of which he still was a member, if he ran against them nationally.[84] Later statements indicated Dinkhauser would not be expelled from the ÖVP to avoid making a martyr of him.[85] However, due to the ÖVP's party statutes, Dinkhauser effectively left the ÖVP of his own will by accepting a political mandate from another party, which he did by becoming a state MP for his Citizens' Forum in the Tyrolean Landtag.[86][87] It is not yet clear how many Tyrolean ÖVP members joined the Citizens' Forum together with Dinkhauser, but the number is reported to be rather high.[88] The name of the list was announced as "Citizens' Forum Austria – Fritz Dinkhauser's List" (Bürgerforum Österreich – Liste Fritz Dinkhauser).[89] Dinkhauser formally decided on 28 July 2008 whether he would contest the election, and it was widely assumed that he will,[90] assuming he had the necessary financial backing.[91]

Dinkhauser had secured the cooperation of the Free Citizens' Lists (Freie Bürgerlisten, a group of former FPÖ members) in Burgenland,[92] and had reportedly got strong backing in Styria as well,[93] with rumours of a participation of fellow ÖVP rebel Gerhard Hirschmann (who failed to enter the Landtag in the 2005 election in Styria) in his list.[94][95] Hirschmann stated he supports Dinkhauser, but would not participate personally.[96] Upper Austrian farmer rebel Leo Steinbichler also supported Dinkhauser.[97] Dinkhauser's main Tyrolean ally Gurgiser stated, however, that he thought the national candidacy is a mistake and that he would certainly stay in Tyrol. At a later date, it was reported that one of Dinkhauser's most important supporters (who declined to be named, but was assumed to be Gurgiser) was strongly against turning the Citizens' Forum into a national party, as he saw it as far more important to establish it as the primary opposition to the ÖVP in Tyrol instead.[98] The election campaign budget was announced to be €2.5 million, making it the largest budget of the extraparliamentary parties.[77]

Two migrants' lists, the "New Movement for the Future" (Neue Bewegung für die Zukunft) led by the Austrian Chamber of Labour rebel Adnan Dincer in Vorarlberg and the small "List for Our Lower Austria" (Liste für unser Niederösterreich) were reportedly interested in cooperation, though Dincer stated he wouldn't stand in the election but just offer his support to Dinkhauser.[99] Furthermore there had been rumours about contacts with former finance minister Karl-Heinz Grasser.[100] A group of doctors and medics in opposition to the health system reform called "The Whites" (Die Weißen) lead by Eva Raunig were reportedly also in contact with Dinkhauser,[101] but later announced they would not work together with him and were considering an independent candicacy. As they did had not announced their candidacy by the time signature gathering started, it was assumed that they decided not to contest the election.

Save Austria logo

Former presidential candidate (in the 1998 election) and pro-neutrality activist Karl Walter Nowak's anti-EU initiative "Save Austria" (Rettet Österreich) announced it would contest the election and was reported to be in contact with the Citizens' Forum;[102] it claimed to have the Kronen Zeitung's support, and will likely have controversial jurist Adrian Hollaender as its main candidate, as Nowak's controversial books had proven to be counterproductive in his past attempts at politics.[103] It was initially unclear whether there would be a joint list with Dinkhauser,[101][104] but in the end Save Austria decided to stand on its own, after Dinkhauser had refused to cooperate with them.

MEP Hans-Peter Martin, who failed to get into parliament in the 2006 election with 2.8% of the required electoral threshold of 4%, was considering whether his Hans-Peter Martin's List would contest the election or not;[105] he had ruled out joining forces with Save Austria, stating that he was "critical of the EU, but pro-European", whereas they were "anti-European",[106] but it was considered possible that Martin would join forces with Dinkhauser, as they had reportedly got strong personal connections.[107] A first meeting was held on 12 July 2008;[108] Dinkhauser stated he had not yet been contacted by Nowak, while Martin still ruled out cooperation with Nowak.[109] Following this meeting, there were rumours that Martin could stay in the European Parliament and only offer his support to Dinkhauser.[72] Before another meeting could be held on 16 July 2008, Martin announced he would not run in the election;[110] Dinkhauser and Martin stated that there was no disagreement between them and that they had the same goals, but that Martin had decided he could continue his work more efficiently in the European Parliament.[111] Martin did, however, also criticise the lack of organisational structure behind Dinkhauser's movement.[112] Dinkhauser said "one had to accept" Martin's decision to concentrate on his work in the EU.[113]

On 29 July 2008, Dinkhauser announced that he would contest the elections, but also stated that neither Save Austria nor the Free Citizens' Lists would be contesting the election together with him;[114] the Free Citizens' Lists will, however, support Dinkhauser financially and with collecting the necessary signatures.[115][116] Save Austria will contest the election on its own instead.[117] The Whites have not yet announced their plans (they are considering running independently, which they claim was their plan all along), but criticised Dinkhauser in many points and claimed that they would certainly have more success than Hackl's SKÖ or the LIF.[118] Dinkhauser's goal is 6%–7% of the vote.[119] Dinkhauser claimed on 2 August 2008 that he had already got party structures and an organisational apparatus ready in seven states, all except Carinthia and Vorarlberg.[120] In Styria, the main group supporting Dinkhauser is a movement led by Karl Zotter which is against a new power line eastern Styria.[77]

Communist Party of Austria and Left

KPÖ logo
File:Linke(Oesterreich)Logo.png
Left logo

Following moves to create a new left-wing party (the working title was "Left Project", Linksprojekt, and the official name which was later announced was "Left", LINKE) it was considered possible that there would be a common left-wing list similar to the German The Left,[121] but it was not known whether there would be enough time for a unification of left-wing forces to occur;[122][123] the Communist Party of Austria in principle had already decided to contest the election on its own,[124] while the Socialist Left Party had stated it wanted to pursue this project[125] – however, when further inquired, the KPÖ had not ruled out a cooperation with other left-wing parties and groups.[101] In the end, the KPÖ decided to run on its own, but with an open list for other left-wing activists and groups – the KPÖ also stated it fully supported the creation of a new left-wing party, but that there was not enough time before the election; the Left decided on 19 July 2008 that it would run on its own;[126][127] the main candidate was yet to be determined.[128] The Left will campaign for expropriation of the upper ten thousand, for more occupational health and safety and for better integration (including offering free courses in the main languages of immigrants, e.g. Turkish and Serbo-Croatian).[129]

The KPÖ has called for price regulation to combat inflation and for a new attempt at reforming the healthcare system, which the grand coalition failed to implement.[130][131] The campaign leaders will be the party's two federal spokespersons, Mirko Messner and Melina Klaus.[132]

Other parties

PPÖ logo
File:DieChristenLogo.png
Christians' logo
File:Partei3Logo.png
Party3 logo
File:SGALogo.png
SGA logo
File:ICHWAEHLENICHTLogo.png
I DON'T VOTE logo

The Pirate Party of Austria (the Austrian section of the Pirate Party), which had already unsuccessfully tried to stand in the 2006 election but failed to gather the necessary signatures, intends to contend the 2008 election.[133]

The Christians are also intending to contest the election;[102] they had previously contested the Lower Austrian and Tyrolean state elections in the same year. Their main campaign promise had in all cases been a strengthening of Christian values and an explicit "no" to equal rights for homosexual couples.

Actor Karlheinz Hackl has announced he will contest the election with a newly founded party called "Solidary Culture of Austria" (Solidarische Kultur Österreichs, SKÖ). His main themes are culture, education, social issues, immigration and Europe, and he wants to become stronger than Strache's FPÖ; he has also stated he will not lead a usual election campaign, but that he will "sing, dance and tell stories" instead.[134]

An internet platform called "Party3" (Partei3) has been founded to contest the election; its main aim is to be the third party in either an SPÖ-Greens or an ÖVP-Greens government, and to introduce a number of projects which will be drafted and decided by all of its members over the internet.[135]

The monarchist movement Black-Yellow Alliance (Schwarz-Gelbe Allianz) announced on 25 July 2008 it would contest the election.[47] The SGA have not yet got a leading candidate. Their aims are to reintroduce the monarchy through a referendum in 2018, installing a monarch with a "strong veto right".[136][137]

A list called "Humans Austria" (Menschen Österreich) led by Johann Klawatsch also intends to contest the election.[138][139]

A movement called "I DON'T VOTE" (ICH WÄHLE NICHT) wants to participate in order for non-voters to have an effect on the election outcome, as well. It wants to reform the electoral law so that an amount of the seats proportional to the rate of abstention would be left empty.[140]

The minor joke political party Certainly – Absolutely – Independent (Sicher – Absolut – Unabhängig or SAU, which means "sow"; led by Franz Radinger, a municipal councillor from Steindorf am Ossiacher See), which received 1,514 votes in Carintia in the 2006 election, will also contest the 2008 election, again only in Carinthia.[141]

The only other relevant group which stood in the last election, the anti-EU movement Neutral Free Austria (Neutrales Freies Österreich), decided not to contest the election and to build up its organisational for the next elections instead.[142]

Analyses and forecasts

Analysts and pollsters offered different opinions on whether smaller extraparliamentary parties had chances to enter parliament or not.[143] According to some pollsters, Dinkhauser's Citizens' Forum had very good chances of getting into parliament, and the LIF with its founder Schmidt as its leading candidate, as well;[144] the conditions were as good as they had never been before for smaller parties, according to some.[145][72] Others stated that only the Citizens' Forum would enter parliament, and all others would likely fail.[146] Analysts furthermore asserted that the candidacy of the Citizens' Forum would likely make the race for third place between Greens and FPÖ very competitive, as the Citizens' Forum would likely gain protest votes which would otherwise go to the FPÖ.[147] The critical time for the extraparliamentary parties was stated to be the very first phase of the campaign, when the larger parties had not yet really started campaigning and the smaller parties had a chance to gain publicity.[148]

Following the announcement that Haider would return to federal politics, analysts held different opinions on the likely effects of this change. While the race for swing voters between ÖVP, FPÖ and BZÖ was seen intensify, it was also remarked that Haider has lost much of his appeal and that it would be unlikely that the BZÖ would increase its share of votes just because of his candidacy. The race for third place between the Greens and the FPÖ was seen to be balanced (as Haider might draw votes from the FPÖ and the LIF from the Greens) or slightly in favour of the Greens.[61] One analyst even expected that Haider would attempt to get the FPÖ to adopt a partner relationship with the BZÖ (similar to the Christian Democratic Union–Christian Social Union of Bavaria alliance in Germany), with the BZÖ only operating in Carinthia and the FPÖ in the rest of Austria, after the 2008 election.[149]

Parties' status

Campaigning

Inflation and rising prices

Inflation is seen as a major election topic. Discussions over solutions to the problem of rising prices began back in February 2008. Gusenbauer proposed to support households with €100 as an offset to the rising prices (known as the Gusi-Hunderter); the ÖVP was against this proposal and supported the abolishment of charges instead.[150] In the end, the coalition compromised by increasing the mileage allowance (Kilometergeld) and the commuter lump sum payment (Pendlerpauschale) and by lowering the unemployed contribution (Arbeitslosenbeiträge) for those who earn least. Furthermore, the cost of the autobahn vignette was not raised, which relieved Austrian motorists by at least €8.4 million.[150]

The ÖVP sees the lowering of brokerage commissions and the charges for arrears letters of debt collection agencies and winter fuel payments for lower-income households as appropriate measures against the inflation. The SPÖ proposes a stricter controlling of prices in addition to the reduction of brokerage commissions.[150] FPÖ and BZÖ see the main problem in the rising fuel prices; the FPÖ demands a ceiling price for fuel, while the BZÖ in addition wants to reduce taxes on fuels.[150] The BZÖ announced a people's initiative (Volksbegehren) calling for a stop to rising prices (by capping the price of fuel and reducing taxes on fuel, drugs and food); however, due to the necessary timeframe, the period during which people will be able to sign for the initiative will only start after the election, thus limiting its potential impact.[151] "Ecology against inflation" is the concept proposed by the Greens; the Greens want to facilitate the changeover to renewable energy in order to reduce energy prices.[150] The Greens stated that the rising oil price, which is the main reason for the high inflation,[152], would quickly nullify other attempts at relief (like tax reductions, winter fuel payments or a higher commuter lump sum payment). The lower inflation would also come at a high cost through a higher trade deficit.[150] In contrast, the Greens call for a conversion of oil and gas heating to wood heatings and for a prescribed redevelopment of badly insulated residential houses to reduce energy consumption and thereby costs.[153]

Referendum on future treaties of the European Union

One of the main reasons cited by the ÖVP as grounds for causing a snap election was the change in the SPÖ's stance on the ratification of future treaties of the European Union. In a letter addressed to Hans Dichand and printed in his newspaper, the Kronen Zeitung, the SPÖ explained the new position as follows: "We are of the opinion that, on the basis of continuous information and an open discussion, future treaty changes which affect Austrian interests should be decided on in a referendum in Austria." (Auf der Basis einer kontinuierlichen Information und einer offenen Diskussion sind wir der Meinung, dass zukünftige Vertragsänderungen, die die österreichischen Interessen berühren, durch eine Volksabstimmung in Österreich entschieden werden sollen.)[154] When the Treaty of Lisbon had been ratified in parliament in April 2008, the SPÖ had defended the solely parliamentary ratification.

Apart from the ÖVP, the Greens also criticised the new SPÖ position on the EU, pointing out that the Kronen Zeitung regularly shored up opposition and irrational fears of the EU in the Austrian population. Member of the European Parliament Johannes Voggenhuber accused the SPÖ of "forming an axis with those groups which try to obstruct European integration through referendums." ([...] eine Achse mit jenen Gruppen zu bilden, die versuchen, mit der Volksabstimmung die europäische Integration zu behindern.).[155]

FPÖ and BZÖ, which had demanded a referendum before the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon, claimed that the SPÖ was untrustworthy, as it had just ratified the Treaty of Lisbon in parliament without a referendum. FPÖ leader Strache claimed in this context that the SPÖ had conducted "politics against the Austrian population" (Politik gegen die eigene Bevölkerung).[156]

Right to stay and integration

Integration is also an important point in the election campaign. The Greens have called for an unconditional right to stay (Bleiberecht) for children and adolscents,[157] while the ÖVP secretary-general Hannes Missethon has announced a campaign against asylum abuse; it has been remarked that the ÖVP appears to lead an anti-immigration campaign in order to gain votes from people sympathetic to FPÖ and BZÖ,[158] although the ÖVP has criticised Strache's calls for only two health insurances organisations (one for Austrians, one for immmigrants) as "completely absurd" and "polemic.[159]

In July 2008, Carinthian governor Jörg Haider (BZÖ) repeatedly came into conflitct with interior minister Maria Fekter (ÖVP) when he tried to remove asylum seekers from Carinthia to other states, which was a clear violation of Carinthia's obligations to the federal state; Haider claimed that all of the asylum seekers in question were criminals, but this turned out to be untrue.[160] Green MP Peter Pilz stated he would report Haider to the police for abuse of position and divulging official secrets, as there are indications that Haider publicised information from the EKIS police information system.[161]

Kindergarten and compulsory education

A topic of discussion is the affordability and availability of kindergartens. The SPÖ has long called for subsidising the last year of kindergarten so that parents would not have to pay for it, while at the same time making it compulsory; currently the last year of kindergarten is only compulsory for children who are diagnosed with speech deficiencies. While the ÖVP has long been against this demand, Molterer changed his mind and announced on 4 August 2008 that he supported a compulsory and cost-free last kindergarten year.[162] Molterer will have to convince the ÖVP sections in the nine states of this change, however.[163] The SPÖ responded positively to Molterer's change of mind, while the opposition parties criticised Molterer for suddenly agreeing with the SPÖ after having obstructed the government for so long.[164]

Mayor and governor of Vienna Michael Häupl had earlier called for antedating compulsory education instead, introducing a compulsory year of pre-school before primary school and abolishing the compulsory ninth year of education;[165] his proposal did not meet with much approval, however, and experts stated that the European trend was going in the other direction (lengthening compulsory education to keep teenagers in the education system for a longer time).[166] Styria had decided in late July 2008 to subsidise kindergartens in Styria, making them completely cost-free.[167]

Privatisation of Austrian Airlines

While Austrian Airlines CEO Alfred Ötsch called for retaining the independence of Austrian Airlines (AUA), he changed his mind once Saudi Arabian investor Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber decided not to go through with his plans to invest €150 million into the corporation.[168] Due to the worsening situation for airlines it is now seen as necessary to find a strong partner for the AUA; airlines which had expressed an interest include Lufthansa, Air France–KLM, Aeroflot, Royal Jordanian, Air China, Turkish Airlines and Singapore Airlines (though Aeroflot has since rejected investing into the AUA). In order for the investment plans to go through, the outgoing government had to agree to give the Österreichische Industrieholding AG (ÖIAG) the mandate to privatise; SPÖ and ÖVP disagreed, however, how much of the 42.75% of AUA shares the ÖIAG holds should be offered for sale. The SPÖ insisted on retaining a blocking minority of 25% plus one share, as Faymann voiced fears that the position of Vienna International Airport as the main hub for Eastern Europe and the Balkans might otherwise be endangered; while the ÖVP agreed that it would be preferable to retain a blocking minority, it did not see this as a condition for the privatisation and preferred to give the ÖIAG a broad mandate for privatisation so that the best partner airline could be found; economy minister Martin Bartenstein voiced his preference for a sale to Lufthansa, which had stated it was only interested in a complete acquisition of the AUA. A decision is expected to be made at a cabinet meeting on 12 August 2008.[169]

Candidates and offices

Apart from Broukal's departure from the SPÖ, a number of other politicians have announced their withdrawal from politics with the 2008 election. On 22 July 2008 SPÖ state secretary for infrastructure Christa Kranzl announced she would not stand in the election due to personal differences between her and Faymann and problems with support from her local party.[170] Rudolf Parnigoni, Robert Rada and Peter Marizzi, all SPÖ MPs, will also retire.[171] Social minister Erwin Buchinger announced on 30 July 2008 that he would not stand for parliament; while he claimed that it would be up to Faymann whether Buchinger would stay on as social minister, it was expected that Faymann would choose someone from the Austrian Trade Union Federation as social minister, due to tradition and the need for reconciliation with the unions.[172][173] While Buchinger stated on 2 August 2008 he was not tired of politics and was not at all ruling out staying on as social minister,[174] president of the National Council Barbara Prammer (also SPÖ) said that possible successors for Buchinger as social minister would be Renate Csörgits, chairwoman of the social issues comittee in the National Council, and family issues spokeswoman Andrea Kuntzl.[175] On 3 August 2008, ÖVP social issues spokesman Werner Amon laid claim to the social ministry after the election, declaring that this would be an issue in coalition talks after the election; the SPÖ immediately denounced this claim.[176] The Faction of Social Democratic Unionists (Fraktion Sozialdemokratischer Gewerkschafter), the SPÖ's union wing, also laid claims to the social ministry,[177] although some union leaders stated that the incumbent Buchinger would also count as being from the unions, as his position and actitivites within the Public Employment Service Austria (Arbeitsmarktservice Österreich) were proof enough of his unionist mindset.[178]

Justice minister Maria Berger announced on 4 August 2008 in an interview with Kurier that she would like to remain in office after the election; while she said it would be easier to push through some reforms in a coalition other than the grand coalition, she was not against continuing the coalition, and even stated that she disagreed with the Greens on introducing same-sex marriage.[179]

In related moves, ÖVP vice federal chairwoman, vice state chairwoman for Tyrol and former state councillor Elisabeth Zanon resigned all her party offices and even publicly considered renouncing her party membership after she was not confirmed as a Tyrolean state councillor in the new cabinet of former interior minister and new governor Günther Platter after the 2008 election in Tyrol, stating that the new political style was unacceptable to her;[180] and Carinthian SPÖ chairwoman and state councillor Gaby Schaunig resigned from all of her offices, accusing governor Jörg Haider from the BZÖ of mobbing and insulting her.[181] ÖVP MP and former state secretary for infrastructure Helmut Kukacka announced on 23 July 2008 that he would also stand down from politics and go into business instead.[182] Long-time SPÖ MP Erwin Niederwieser announced on 29 July 2008 that he would retire.[183]

Green MPs Sabine Mandak and Theresia Haidlmayr (the Greens' handicapped spokeswoman) had announced they would not stand in the election; Haidlmayr stated she had not chance to be selected by her party and that the Greens had now got different priorities than handicapped persons' rights and that they wanted fresh and younger faces on their candidate lists.[184] She did not rule out being interested in becoming state secretary for handicapped people, but stated she would not seek the office at all costs.[185] Chief secretary Michaela Sburny stated that she regretted Haidlmayr's decision, but denied claims that Haidlmayr had been denied a safe seat, as all candidate lists are decided by the whole membership of the Greens, thus rendering the granting or denying of a safe seat impossible.[186] Another Green MP stated that there were no seats explicitly reserved for immigrants or handicapped people.[187]

FPÖ MP Karlheinz Klement, who had been in the national media because of his repeated attacks on gender mainstreaming (which he called "gender madness", Gender-Wahnsinn) and homosexuality (which he referred to as "a culture of death", eine Kultur des Todes), was first put in a back-row place in the Carinthian candidate lists of the FPÖ and was later expelled on 31 July 2008 for "behaviour which could damage the party" (parteischädigendes Verhalten). Klement had twice been expelled from the FPÖ before 2008.[188] Klement stated on 1 August 2008 that there were two factions in the Carinthian FPÖ: those who agreed with the federal FPÖ led by Strache and those who wanted to seek reunification with the BZÖ (with a minority reportedly in favour of cooperation with Dinkhauser). Klement did not rule out joining the BZÖ with his supporters.[189] A split of the Carinthian FPÖ was not ruled out.[190] Klement said he would take his expulsion to the courts and claimed he would bring the end of Strache and the secretary-generals Vilimsky and Herbert Kickl.[191] The FPÖ stated it was not afraid of Klement's threats, while the BZÖ said it was open to any people from the FPÖ who wished to join them.[192]

ÖVP and Greens have announced plans to announce lateral hires (Quereinsteiger), while the other three parliamentary parties have not stated such plans; the FPÖ has even stated that it is against lateral hires out of principle.[193]

Election posters

The SPÖ announced on 30 July 2008 that it would put up the first election posters on 3 August 2008; they feature Faymann and the words "Enough fights." (Genug gestritten.), thus criticising the grand coalition's lack of agreement on fundamental issues, which the SPÖ attributes to the ÖVP's refusal to accept that the ÖVP lost the election. The poster was attacked by ÖVP, who claimed that the SPÖ was responsible for the disputes in the coalition, and the smaller parties, who feared a costly election campaign due to the early start of the campaign. The ÖVP stated it would present its first election poster on 5 August 2008.[194]

Polls

Parliamentary parties only
Agency Date SPÖ ÖVP GRÜNE FPÖ BZÖ Others
OGM 2008-06-21 33 33 14 16 4 —
market 2008-07-02 27 33 14 21 3 2
Fessel-GfK 2008-07-08 28 35 14 20 3 —
market 2008-07-09 26 33 14 22 4 1
Gallup 2008-07-10 27 32 16 19 4 2
OGM 2008-07-13 30 33 14 18 3 2
Humaninstitut 2008-07-17 25 28 11 19 2 15
Gallup 2008-07-25 27 30 16 19 5 —
IMAS 2008-07-29 25 29 15 18 6 —
Including extraparliamentary parties
Agency Date SPÖ ÖVP GRÜNE FPÖ BZÖ LIF FRITZ KPÖ SKÖ Others MATIN
Gallup 2008-07-10 21 23 14 18 5 2 7 2 2 2 (4)
Integral 2008-07-12 28 31 14 16 4 — 5 — — 2 #
Gallup 2008-07-17 24 26 16 19 5 2 6 — — —
IMAS 2008-07-19 24 29 15 20 4 — 5 — — —
Gallup 2008-07-25 25 29 14 15 7 4 6 — — —
OGM 2008-07-29 25 30 13 17 4 4 5 — — 2
Gallup 2008-07-31 23 26 15 17 7 5 7 — — —

# Have since decided not to contest the election.

Kanzlerfrage
Agency Date Faymann (SPÖ) Molterer (ÖVP) Strache (FPÖ) Van der Bellen (GRÜNE) Haider (BZÖ)
market 2008-07-09 26 29 — — —
Gallup 2008-07-10 40 31 — — —
OGM 2008-07-13 19 18 11 10 3*
Gallup 2008-07-17 38 31 — — —
Gallup 2008-07-25 39 30 — — —
Gallup 2008-07-31 42 23 — — —

* Westenthaler was polled instead of Haider before it was announced that Westenthaler would not be the leading candidate.

Regional polls

Including extraparliamentary parties
Region Agency Date SPÖ ÖVP GRÜNE FPÖ BZÖ LIF Others
Upper Austria Spectra 2008-08-02 28–30 26–28 13–15 16–18 4–6 1–3 6–8
Kanzlerfrage
Region Agency Date Faymann (SPÖ) Molterer (ÖVP) Strache (FPÖ) Van der Bellen (GRÜNE) Haider (BZÖ)
Upper Austria Spectra 2008-08-02 44 26 — — —

Results

Template:Austrian legislative election, 2008

State SPÖ ÖVP GRÜNE FPÖ BZÖ LIF FRITZ KPÖ LINKE CHRISTEN
Burgenland
Carinthia
Lower Austria
Salzburg
Styria
Tyrol
Upper Austria
Vienna
Vorarlberg

Formation of government

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