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Smaller Parties Gain in Austrian Vote Smaller Parties Gain in Austrian National Elections
(about 2 hours later)
VIENNA — Austria’s two biggest political parties made their worst showings in decades in the national election on Sunday, losing votes to an array of smaller parties, exit polls suggested. But they appeared likely to retain enough seats in Parliament to stay in power. VIENNA — Austria’s two biggest political parties made their worst showings in decades in the national election on Sunday, losing votes to an array of smaller parties, according to preliminary official tallies. But they retained enough seats in Parliament to stay in power.
The two big parties — the Social Democrats and the Austrian People’s Party — have dominated Austrian politics since the end of World War II. Their “grand coalition” government has governed this prosperous nation of some eight million people for five years, shepherding it through the aftermath of the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 and the subsequent crisis in the 17-nation euro zone. Between them, the two big parties — the Social Democrats and the Austrian People’s Party — have dominated Austrian politics since the end of World War II. Their current “grand coalition” has governed this prosperous nation of some eight million people for five years, shepherding it through the aftermath of the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 and the subsequent crisis in the 17-nation euro zone.
Each of them appeared to have received less support than in any previous election since 1945. By contrast, the rightist Freedom Party made significant gains; so did the Greens and a party founded by an Austro-Canadian billionaire. A new pro-business party appeared to have cleared the 4 percent hurdle needed to gain seats in the new Parliament in its first attempt. Even so, the two big parties each received less support at the polls on Sunday than in any previous election since 1945. By contrast, the rightist Freedom Party made significant gains; so did the Greens and a party founded by an Austro-Canadian billionaire. A new pro-business party appeared to have cleared the 4 percent hurdle needed to gain seats in Parliament in its first attempt.
The new party, known as NEOS, in German short for New Austria, or , was the surprise of the day. After the leader of the group, Matthias Strolz, could not make himself heard over the cheers of supporters at an election-night rally, he told the state television network ORF that “we want to bring this kind of lively action” into the 183-seat Parliament. The new party, known as NEOS, in German short for New Austria , was the surprise of the day. After the leader of the group, Matthias Strolz, could not make himself heard over the cheers of supporters at an election-night rally, he told the state television network ORF that “we want to bring this kind of lively action” into the 183-seat Parliament.
Analysts said the most likely outcome of the election would be a continuation of the grand coalition. But Claus Pandi, political editor of Kronenzeitung, the country’s largest newspaper, noted along with others that voters had shown little enthusiasm for the arrangement. Analysts said the most likely outcome of the election would be a continuation of the grand coalition.
The exit polls suggested that the Social Democratic party would win about 53 seats in the new legislature, and the People’s Party 46, giving them a comfortable majority of 99, down from 108 in the outgoing Parliament. The polls suggested that the Freedom Party would gain 4 seats, to 42; the Greens 2 seats, to 22; and Team Stronach, the party of the billionaire Frank Stronach, who spent an undisclosed amount of his personal fortune on saturation advertising, appeared set to win 11 seats, a gain of 6. The new party, NEOS, would win 9 seats, the polls suggested. The preliminary tallies showed the Social Democratic party winning 53 seats in the new legislature, and the People’s Party 46, giving the coalition a comfortable majority of 99, down from 108 in the outgoing Parliament. The Freedom Party gained 4 seats, to 42; the Greens gained 2 seats, to 22; and Team Stronach won 11 seats, a gain of 6. The new party, NEOS, won 9 seats.