AUSTRIA: parliamentary elections Nationalrat, 1994

AUSTRIA
Parliamentary Chamber: Nationalrat

ELECTIONS HELD IN 1994

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for AUSTRIA <<<

Chamber:

Nationalrat

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

9 October 1994

Purpose of elections:

Elections were held for all the seats in the National Council on the normal expiry of the members’ term of office.

Background and outcome of elections:

The election date was set in mid-July 1994.
As four years earlier, the principal challenger to the two-party ruling “grand coalition” comprising the Socialist Party (SPÖ) and People’s Party (ÖVP), which had made the biggest advance in 1990. During the campaign, Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Jörg Haider took an anti-foreigner stance, blaming immigrants for the country’s crime and unemployment rates. He also alleged corruption in the official ruling circles. Federal Chancellor Franz Vranitzky, at the head of the left-of-centre SPÖ, stressed his personal qualities and extensive experience in this post as well as his Government’s success in the sector of tax reform and its stated commitment to a broad array of other reforms. The conservative ÖVP was headed by Mr. Erhard Busek.
On a polling day marked by a low voter turnout, the governing partners suffered their biggest setback in nearly 50 years while losing their tow-thirds parliamentary majority, these losses being picked up not only by the FPÖ but also by the Greens and especially the newly founded Liberal Forum. Analysts attributed this outcome as much to the electorate’s weariness with years of SPÖ- ÖVP rule as to the increasing popularity of the FPÖ and its straightforward message.
On 14 October, three days after Mr. Vranitzky tendered his Government’s resignation, Federal President Thomas Klestil charged him with forming a new one. Ultimately, on 25 November, agreement was reached on the reformation of the “grand coalition”. Five days later, a largely unchanged Cabinet headed by Mr. Vranitzky was sworn in.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (9 October 1994): Elections results

Number of registered electors 5,774,000 (approx.)

Voters 4,730,987

Blank or invalid ballot papers 97,873

Valid votes 4,633,144

Round no 1: Distribution of votes

Political Group Candidates Votes %

Socialist Party (SPÖ) 183 1,617,804 34.92

People’s Party (ÖVP) 183 1,281,846 27.67

Freedom Party (FPÖ) 183 1,042,332 22.50

Greens 183 338,538 7.31

Liberal Forum 183 276,580 5.97

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

Political Group Total Gain/Loss

Socialist Party (SPÖ) 65 -15

People’s Party (ÖVP) 52 -8

Freedom Party (FPÖ) 42 +9

Greens 13 +3

Liberal Forum 11 +11

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 140

Women: 43

Distribution of seats according to age:

Under 31 years 2

31-40 years 33

41-50 years 66

51-60 years 75

Over 60 years 7

Distribution of seats according to profession:

Public service 72

Industry & trade 35

Employees of social security institutions, trade unions, political parties 24

Liberal professions 17

Farming & forestry 17

Commerce & traffic 15

Household 3

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for AUSTRIA <<<

Chamber:
	Nationalrat
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	9 October 1994
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats in the National Council on the normal expiry of the members’ term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	The election date was set in mid-July 1994. As four years earlier, the principal challenger to the two-party ruling “grand coalition” comprising the Socialist Party (SPÖ) and People’s Party (ÖVP), which had made the biggest advance in 1990. During the campaign, Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Jörg Haider took an anti-foreigner stance, blaming immigrants for the country’s crime and unemployment rates. He also alleged corruption in the official ruling circles. Federal Chancellor Franz Vranitzky, at the head of the left-of-centre SPÖ, stressed his personal qualities and extensive experience in this post as well as his Government’s success in the sector of tax reform and its stated commitment to a broad array of other reforms. The conservative ÖVP was headed by Mr. Erhard Busek. On a polling day marked by a low voter turnout, the governing partners suffered their biggest setback in nearly 50 years while losing their tow-thirds parliamentary majority, these losses being picked up not only by the FPÖ but also by the Greens and especially the newly founded Liberal Forum. Analysts attributed this outcome as much to the electorate’s weariness with years of SPÖ- ÖVP rule as to the increasing popularity of the FPÖ and its straightforward message. On 14 October, three days after Mr. Vranitzky tendered his Government’s resignation, Federal President Thomas Klestil charged him with forming a new one. Ultimately, on 25 November, agreement was reached on the reformation of the “grand coalition”. Five days later, a largely unchanged Cabinet headed by Mr. Vranitzky was sworn in.

Round no 1 (9 October 1994): Elections results
Number of registered electors	5,774,000 (approx.)
Voters	4,730,987
Blank or invalid ballot papers	97,873
Valid votes	4,633,144

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Candidates	Votes	%
Socialist Party (SPÖ)	183	1,617,804	34.92
People’s Party (ÖVP)	183	1,281,846	27.67
Freedom Party (FPÖ)	183	1,042,332	22.50
Greens	183	338,538	7.31
Liberal Forum	183	276,580	5.97

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total	Gain/Loss
Socialist Party (SPÖ)	65	-15
People’s Party (ÖVP)	52	-8
Freedom Party (FPÖ)	42	+9
Greens	13	+3
Liberal Forum	11	+11

Distribution of seats according to age:
Under 31 years	2
31-40 years	33
41-50 years	66
51-60 years	75
Over 60 years	7
Distribution of seats according to profession:
Public service	72
Industry & trade	35
Employees of social security institutions, trade unions, political parties	24
Liberal professions	17
Farming & forestry	17
Commerce & traffic	15
Household	3