Burgenland state election, 2010

• SPÖ: 18
• GREEN: 1
• ÖVP: 13
• FPO: 3
• LBL: 1

The state elections in Burgenland in 2010 took place on May 30, 2010. According to the preliminary results, including the choice cards, the Social Democratic Party of Austria failed ( SPÖ) with 48.3% and the loss of a mandate the desired absolute majority of votes and mandate. The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP ) recorded at 34.6 %, also a loss of 1.8 %, but its mandate could hold status. The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ ) won with a voice, growth of 3.2 percentage points and a vote share of 9.0 % added a mandate. The Greens Burgenland ( GREEN ) lost 1.1%, 4.2% managed with the entry into the state parliament with a mandate (2005: 2). The list Burgenland ( LBL), which contested the first time in the election, is also represented with a result of 4.0 % with a mandate in the parliament. The Alliance for the Future of Austria ( AAF ) abandoned for financial reasons his candidacy.

• 2.1 Social Democratic Party of Austria ( SPÖ)
• 2.2 Austrian People's Party (ÖVP )
• 2.3 Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ )
• 2.4 The Greens - The Green Alternative ( GREEN )
• 2.5 List Burgenland ( LBL)
• 2.6 campaign budgets

• 3.1 assistance operation in Burgenland
• 3.2 Preference votes

• 4.1 electoral fraud

Starting position

In the 2005 parliamentary elections the SPÖ had reached 52.2 %. With an increase of 5.6%, the SPÖ was able to reconquer their lost absolute majority in 1987 and reached with 19 of 36 seats for the first time since this election again, the absolute majority of seats, with the SPÖ could especially benefit from the losses of the FPÖ. Second place was awarded as already in the previous elections, the ÖVP, with an increase of 1.1 %, however, far less able to benefit from the losses of the FPÖ. With 36.4 %, the ÖVP reached as early as 2005 13 seats. The FPÖ did not even reach half its original 2005 results and came up with a loss of 6.9 %, only 5.8 %. This meant for the Freedom Party, the worst result since 1982 and the loss of two of their previous four mandates. The Greens achieved with slight losses of 0.3 % a vote share of 5.2 %, which they could keep their two mandates. The Austrian citizens and economic party was, however, failed because of the way into the parliament.

Despite the absolute majority of seats in the state parliament the Social Democratic Party, the state government was after the 2005 parliamentary elections due to the proportional representation system made ​​up of members of the SPÖ and the ÖVP. The state government Niessl II by Governor Hans Niessl sat down beside of four SPÖ - ÖVP and three members. After the government work was not previously run without friction, the parliament was dissolved in a special meeting on 21 December 2009 at the request and with the votes of the Social Democratic Party Member of Parliament. The Social Democratic Party established its step with the differences between the SPÖ and ÖVP in the country's budget issues, assistance operation and the burst of reform of the country's constitution. The ÖVP coalition partners and the opposition parties FPÖ and the Greens agree with the request of the Social Democratic Party, however, not the case. The ÖVP had the reform of the state constitution not previously agreed with the abolition of proportional representation, since they are not under time pressure had wanted to set up.

Election date

After the premature dissolution of parliament, the SPÖ preferred in the choice of date May 2, 2010, with media commentators in particular saw the recently held presidential election and the celebrations of the first of May as potential benefits for the SPÖ. However, the responsibility for setting the election date state Deputy Governor Franz Steindl (ÖVP ) put in the following May 30, fixed as polling day. He explained his decision by saying the May 2 election day was not ideal, because the voters otherwise after the presidential election for the second time had to choose within a week and also the day of the fire was on that day. 9 May came in the wake due to the Mother's Day no question May 16th, must be reserved for a possible second round of the presidential election. Even the subsequent Pentecost weekend would be unsuitable as election day. As a result, the SPÖ presented an opinion of the constitutional experts Heinz Mayer after May 30 was unconstitutional as election date, yet remained May 30 as election day exist.

Suffrage

The state election 2010 was conducted in Burgenland after the state election code 1995 ( LTWO 1995 ), the voting age was lowered to 16 years, by an amendment before the state election in 2005. In the state elections in 2010 all those people were after LTWO 1995 active right, who had reached on Election Day, 30 May 2010, 16 years of age and had on the record date, March 10, 2010, the Austrian citizenship. In addition, the voters had in a municipality in Burgenland resident and could not be disqualified from voting. As a resident within the meaning of LTWO 1995 there was a main residence in Burgenland. In addition, was considered a resident within the meaning of LTWO 1995, when a person had settled in contention in Burgenland place to make this a focus of his economic, professional, family or social life conditions, wherein at least two of these criteria had to be met. Exclusion of the election, however, was the final conviction by a domestic court for one or more committed with intent offenses to more than one year imprisonment. The exclusion ended it six months after the execution of the sentence.

The passive right to vote in the regional elections in 2010 had all those people who have the right to vote and had completed 18 years of age on election day.

The allocation of mandates took place after the LTWO 1995 two investigations, the Burgenland for the first investigation into the constituencies 1 ( Neusiedl ), 2 ( Eisenstadt ), 3 ( Mattersburg), 4 ( Oberpullendorf ), 5 ( Oberwart ), 6 ( Güssing ) and 7 ( Jenner village) was divided and were awarded per constituency between two and seven seats. The unused votes were introduced into the Second investigation and awarded the mandates in the sequence after the country's election proposals.

Surveys

The published before the start of the election campaign OGM poll predicted the Social Democrats with 48% loss of the absolute majority. In addition, the ÖVP OGM predicted with 34% small losses and the FPÖ with 10% greater gains. The Greens were at this time, according to OGM unchanged at 5 % while the list Burgenland with 2% of the catchment would have failed in the state legislature. Published in May polls predicted the SPÖ 49-52 %, thus achieving an absolute majority in range was. While the Institute GMK and Gallup of the ÖVP with 28 to 31 % as certified massive losses, saw the ÖVP Market with 38% gains even retract. While GMK and Gallup calculated 9-11 % for the FPÖ, Market saw the FPÖ only 7 %. The Greens were added to the polls in May 5-9 %, while the pollster LBL saw below the threshold for entry into the state parliament.

Ballot

In addition to the personal vote at the polling station on election day the election was possible by means of election card that had to be received by 12.00 clock of May 28, 2010 applied for in the municipality of residence. With the election map the voters were able to exercise their vote at all polling card polling stations in Burgenland. In addition, it was the voters possible to transmit their voting card by absentee ballot to the county election authority, the election card no later than 2 June 2010 14.00 clock at the county election authority ( district authorities) had receipt. Besides the choice of the party's electorate could also assign a preferential vote at the country level and up to three preference votes at the constituency level, each candidate in each case could only get a preferential vote. The preferred voice was stronger than the vote for a party, ie a party was ticked, but assign a preferential vote to the candidate of another party, so that voice was also true for the party of the candidate.

Choice advertiser parties

Social Democratic Party of Austria ( SPÖ)

After the Social Democratic Party of Austria was held at the district level primaries, where, according to party details involved about 1,000 people, was elected the 72 candidates for the list on 20 February 2010 a national party council in Mattersburg. To the top candidates of the incumbent Governor Hans Niessl was chosen, which received 100 % of the 137 votes cast. The focus of the SPÖ - election campaign is the " no" to the proposed asylum center in Eberau and the extension of the Army mission of the Armed Forces. Choice of destination country Niessl was holding the absolute majority.

Austrian People's Party (ÖVP )

The executive committee of the Austrian People's Party in Burgenland, a 33 - member body, has named on January 18, 2010, at the proposal of the party presidium unanimously Deputy Governor Franz Steindl top candidate for the state elections in Burgenland. The ranking of the country's list was decided in April. In its election manifesto, " What is at stake: 2010 - 2015 " presented the ÖVP job creation in first place, this should be achieved through investment in infrastructure, better education, reducing red tape and the reconciliation of work and family. In addition, the ÖVP stated in its election manifesto use of the opportunities of the " boys " by the fight against youth unemployment and promoting education in the foreground, made ​​himself strong for an enhanced home care as well as regional generation centers and went under the slogan "must be Hardworking pay" among other things, as a transfer account. Steindl, who had announced a long time to want to be in 2010 Governor, unscrewed during the election campaign his election goal back and wanted to " be stronger" only recently.

Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ )

The 20 -member Burgenland state party executive of the Freedom Party of Austria elected at a retreat on 6 February 2010 in Burgenland party and club chairman Johann Tschürtz top candidate. The country list was decided by the party leadership. When dialing destination, the FPÖ was from the percentage Zweistelligkeit and a place in the state government. The Freedom sat in state elections as already on both he deport 2005 parliamentary elections on the issues of home and security and want about criminal asylum immediately.

The Greens - The Green Alternative ( GREEN )

List Burgenland ( LBL)

For the list of Burgenland ( LBL), a platform of civil and name lists the Free citizens lists came into office at the municipal election in 2007 already partly under the collective term platform, the board drew up a proposal for the state list, in case of a choice Covenant 28 February 2010 Bad Sauerbrunn has been tuned. In the election Convention Manfred Kölly was elected by open vote for the top candidates for the first time antretenden at a state election list. As an option, the target LBL spent the achievement of two to four mandates, most important issues in the election campaign was the appearance against party book economy and the strengthening of local government.

Campaign budgets

The ÖVP figured her campaign budget of 600,000 euros, a figure which was, however, drawn from political opponents FPÖ in doubt. The FPÖ itself gave to the media at a Wahlkapfbudget of 300,000 euros. The Greens invest 150,000 euros in the state election campaign, the LBL had 200,000 euros from an election campaign budget, which are responsible for the finances of each of the district organizations.

Campaign issues

Assistance operation in Burgenland

The dominant theme of the parliamentary election campaign was the issue of security and the related discussion on the continuation of assistance operation in the border region of Burgenland. Governor Niessl and Defense Minister Norbert Darabos called several times to continue the constitutionally controversial Army mission beyond the previously agreed after 2010, during the election campaign. Chancellor Werner Faymann advocated an extension of the Army mission still before the state election. Alternatively, the extension of the Army mission urged the SPÖ the posting of an additional 300 police officers to the Burgenland, which was designed by Interior Minister Maria Fekter (ÖVP ) but rejected with reference to the " good security " and the high number of police officers. In addition Fekter pointed out that must be paid for any extension of the assistance operation from the defense budget, and will decide on the continuation of the assistance operation until autumn. The Greens submitted the issue of assistance operation by an urgent request to Defense Minister Darabos into parliament, with the Greens criticized the opinion of their senseless assistance operation. In fact, in 2009 only nine illegal immigrants and no tractor had been taken up by the assistance operation in Burgenland and Lower Austria. The demand Niessls for an extension of the Army mission and the previously effected rejection of the proposed asylum center in Eberau brought him in episode one the accusation of populism political opponents but also journalists.

Preferential votes

To heated discussions led implemented by the Social Democratic Party in December 2009 suffrage amendment, which the granting of preferential votes has changed. Wog been the voice for a party heavier than a preferential vote, as a party vote was now proposing the principle of introduced preferential vote. This selects who ticking the X Party and a valid preferential votes awarded to a candidate of the party Y, automatically the party Y. While the SPÖ the right to vote change as progress of direct democracy called, were the opposition parties massively against the new system on. Was criticized, among other potential confusion for voters, as for example the municipal election order in Burgenland allows the election of the mayor also against his own party 's voice. However, in their criticism inhibited was the ÖVP, since the scheme in Burgenland corresponds to that in the ÖVP - dominated Lower Austria. In addition, Governor Niessl itself was criticized after he had sent a letter to the electorate, was explicitly mentioned in the that you can now choose the governor directly. The Greens spoke in the wake of a voter deception, top candidate Michel Reimon described this statement even as " crystal clear lie" after the Governor can only be chosen by Parliament. Also FPÖ and ÖVP joined this assessment, the ÖVP of " red voter deception system " spoke. Niessl defended the letter, however, and saw it as an opportunity to strengthen him as governor.

Election

Electoral fraud

After the corruption prosecution had launched investigations, confessed Wilhelm Heißenberger (ÖVP ), the mayor of the municipality Unterrabnitz - Schwendgraben to have hand forged 13 choice cards.

It is believed that the fake votes were cast on the list Burgenland, which exceeded the required 4 percent threshold for entry into the state parliament with one voice. After the announcement of the election fraud, a new election complaint was lodged by the FPÖ announced but not introduced.

Heissenberger itself, the ÖVP councilors of Unterrabnitz uttered their confidence, stepped back until October 31, 2010. In the following election of the ÖVP candidate Franz reel won clearly.