Austrian legislative election, 1979

  • SPÖ: 95
  • Freedom Party: 11
  • ÖVP: 77

The general election on 6 May 1979, the 15th in the history of the Republic of Austria. Strongest party was 51%, the SPÖ under Chancellor Bruno Kreisky, who hold their absolute majority and gain votes and mandates could, which means the highest share of the vote a party at a general election today. With votes and mandate losses, the ÖVP was the second strongest under Josef Taus party. The Freedom Party, which contested with Alexander Götz as top candidate, was able to achieve slight gain in votes compared to the last election.

Were entitled to vote 5,186,735 Austrians. The turnout was 91.18 percent ( 1971: 91.92 ).

Background

The third term as Bruno Kreisky was overshadowed by the debate about the nuclear power plant in Zwentendorf Zwentendorf an der Donau (Lower Austria ), which contributed much to the emergence of the ecological movement in Austria. After the construction of the nuclear power plant, the population rejected on November 5, 1978 in a referendum with a wafer- thin majority of 50.47 % from its commissioning.

The referendum resulted in heated discussions. The Austrian People's Party, of which the planning for a nuclear power plant in Austria originally went out, spoke before the vote against the commissioning of the NPP Zwentendorf. The main reason may have been the strong involvement of traditional ÖVP nearby Lower Austrian population in the protest movement against the power plant.

Ahead of the vote Chancellor Bruno Kreisky announced his intention to resign in the event of a vote against the commissioning. Despite the negative output for Kreisky, he remained in office and ran well in the parliamentary election in 1979 as a leading candidate of the Social Democratic Party.

Final result

N.k. = Not a candidate

Follow

The SPÖ was able to increase its absolute majority in these elections and presented with Bruno Kreisky for another four years, the Federal Chancellor. The federal government Kreisky IV took on 5 June 1979 to their work. As a result of the election output resigned ÖVP chairman Josef Taus. Alois Mock became his successor.

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