Posted on 10/01/2006 4:14:15 AM PDT by Alex1977
Austrians are voting in general elections expected to be among the closest in the central European state since World War II and which could see the far right leave power after six years as the junior coalition partner. Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, 61, who took office in 2000 in a controversial alliance with the far-right, is hoping to stay in office with a change in coalition partners. Political science professor Walter Manoschek told AFP Sunday this would mark "the end of the most successful far-right party in Europe," referring to groupings led by nationalist Joerg Haider. But Manoschek also warned that anything could happen in what is shaping up to be the tightest legislative election in Austria since 1945. Schuessel's conservative People's Party (OeVP) is set to get between 37-39 percent of the vote and the rival Socalists between 34-35 percent, according to polls. Schuessel formed a government with Haider's Freedom Party (FPOe) in 2000, after finishing behind the FPOe in general elections in 1999, a move that set off international condemnation and drew seven months of sanctions from the European Union due to Haider's nationalistic, xenophobic policies. But Schuessel weathered the storm to create a center-leaning administration which has weakened the firebrand Haider, and the chancellor handily won re-election in 2002 with his People's Party gaining the most votes for the first time since 1966. Haider, 56, is no longer an electoral threat after breaking from his Freedom Party last year to form a splinter grouping that replaced the FPOe as the junior government partner but which has little chance of doing well in Sunday's vote. All the main parties have rejected a ruling alliance with the still potent FPOe, led by newcomer Heinz Christian Strache, who maintains a hardline anti-immigrant position and says that Haider has sold out to the political center. In any case, Strache wants to "profit from the old Haider recipe of right-wing populist opposition for the years to come," University of Vienna political science professor Anton Pelinka told AFP. At a closing FPOe rally Friday evening, Strache, whose campaign posters proclaim him to be "The Patriot", said Austrians must not "become a minority in their own country," a warning in largely Catholic Austria about Muslim immigration. Schuessel's OeVP party, bolstered by a strong economy, is expected to stave off a challenge by the main opposition, the Socialists (SPOe), who have been weakened by a scandal in the country's bank for union funds. OeVP campaign posters portray Schuessel as the "protector" of Austrian well-being, with slogans urging his re-election "because he can do it." Socialist leader Alfred Gusenbauer has focused his campaign on charges that prosperous Austria is not sharing its wealth fairly. According to the polls, the far-right FPOe is slated to get 10 percent, while Haider's BZOe is only supported by three percent of the electorate, polls show. The environmentalist Greens are expected to get between 10-11 percent, and there is also the party of "clean politics" campaigner Hans-Peter Martin, which scored less than one percent in the last legislative vote in 2002. Parties need to win at least four percent of the vote to enter parliament. A "grand coalition" between the main right and left parties, the OeVP and the Socialists, is possible if there is no other option, with the chancellor coming from the party with the most votes. Or Schuessel may be able to form a coalition with the Greens. Austria's some 13,000 polling stations for 6.1 million voters were all open at 7:00 am (0500 GMT), with sunny, warm weather expected for the day. The Austrian news agency APA said good weather has in past years meant lower voter participation. The participation rate for the last legislative vote in 2002 was 84.27 percent. Polls were to close at 5:00 pm (1500 GMT), with exit poll estimates almost immediately available on national television.
By Mark Heinrich
VIENNA, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Austrians voted in a general election on Sunday likely to reinstate Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel's conservatives as the nation's largest party and oust far-right populist Joerg Haider's group from government. Ballot stations opened at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and will close at 5 p.m. (1500 GMT). The first projection of the outcome based on already counted votes is due at 5 p.m., with unofficial final results following 2-1/2 hours later. Polls showed Schuessel's People's Party, campaigning largely on pledges of further prosperity and tax relief, would gain the greatest number of votes but less than the 42 percent it garnered at the 2002 elections. The main opposition Social Democrats, accusing Schuessel of fostering social divisions but damaged by a union bank scandal, were expected to lag Schuessel by 2-3 percentage points. The Greens and rightist Freedom Party and Greens were running neck-and-neck for the third spot with around 10 percent. But predictions had greater uncertainty than usual due to a large number of undecided voters, roughly one third of the 6.1 million total eligible to vote for the 183-seat parliament. Analysts said Schuessel's next ruling partner could be either the Social Democrats, a "grand coalition" offering stability many voters desire after years of turbulence with Haider, or the Greens based on similar environmental platforms. Continued here.
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Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, 61, who took office in 2000 in a controversial alliance with the far-right, is hoping to stay in office with a change in coalition partners.
Political science professor Walter Manoschek told AFP Sunday this would mark "the end of the most successful far-right party in Europe," referring to groupings led by nationalist Joerg Haider.
But Manoschek also warned that anything could happen in what is shaping up to be the tightest legislative election in Austria since 1945.
Schuessel's conservative People's Party (OeVP) is set to get between 37-39 percent of the vote and the rival Socalists between 34-35 percent, according to polls.
Schuessel formed a government with Haider's Freedom Party (FPOe) in 2000, after finishing behind the FPOe in general elections in 1999, a move that set off international condemnation and drew seven months of sanctions from the European Union due to Haider's nationalistic, xenophobic policies.
But Schuessel weathered the storm to create a center-leaning administration which has weakened the firebrand Haider, and the chancellor handily won re-election in 2002 with his People's Party gaining the most votes for the first time since 1966.
Haider, 56, is no longer an electoral threat after breaking from his Freedom Party last year to form a splinter grouping that replaced the FPOe as the junior government partner but which has little chance of doing well in Sunday's vote.
All the main parties have rejected a ruling alliance with the still potent FPOe, led by newcomer Heinz Christian Strache, who maintains a hardline anti-immigrant position and says that Haider has sold out to the political center.
In any case, Strache wants to "profit from the old Haider recipe of right-wing populist opposition for the years to come," University of Vienna political science professor Anton Pelinka told AFP.
At a closing FPOe rally Friday evening, Strache, whose campaign posters proclaim him to be "The Patriot", said Austrians must not "become a minority in their own country," a warning in largely Catholic Austria about Muslim immigration.
Schuessel's OeVP party, bolstered by a strong economy, is expected to stave off a challenge by the main opposition, the Socialists (SPOe), who have been weakened by a scandal in the country's bank for union funds.
OeVP campaign posters portray Schuessel as the "protector" of Austrian well-being, with slogans urging his re-election "because he can do it."
Socialist leader Alfred Gusenbauer has focused his campaign on charges that prosperous Austria is not sharing its wealth fairly.
According to the polls, the far-right FPOe is slated to get 10 percent, while Haider's BZOe is only supported by three percent of the electorate, polls show.
The environmentalist Greens are expected to get between 10-11 percent, and there is also the party of "clean politics" campaigner Hans-Peter Martin, which scored less than one percent in the last legislative vote in 2002.
Parties need to win at least four percent of the vote to enter parliament.>{? A "grand coalition" between the main right and left parties, the OeVP and the Socialists, is possible if there is no other option, with the chancellor coming from the party with the most votes.
Or Schuessel may be able to form a coalition with the Greens.
Austria's some 13,000 polling stations for 6.1 million voters were all open at 7:00 am (0500 GMT), with sunny, warm weather expected for the day.
The Austrian news agency APA said good weather has in past years meant lower voter participation. The participation rate for the last legislative vote in 2002 was 84.27 percent.
Polls were to close at 5:00 pm (1500 GMT), with exit poll estimates almost immediately available on national television.
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