Parties in comparison
Explanation of the chart
The graph shows the economic orientation of the parties on the X-axis from left to right. The further left, the more actively the state should intervene via taxes, regulations and redistribution. The further to the right, the less the state should intervene.
On the Y-axis from top to bottom, the parties are categorized according to their life models. The further up a party, the more it prioritizes liberal lifestyles over traditional views and material goods. The further down, the more a party aligns itself with traditional lifestyles and sees the state as the moral authority for living together.
Data was collected through the 2019 Chapel Hill Expert Survey by more than 400 policy experts. Party positions may change over time. Therefore, the chart serves only as an overview and cannot make statements about specific political topics.
Ryan Bakker, Liesbet Hooghe, Seth Jolly, Gary Marks, Jonathan Polk, Jan Rovny, Marco Steenbergen, and Milada Anna Vachudova. 2020. “2019 Chapel Hill Expert Survey.” - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
ÖVP
Austrian People’s PartyCentre-right
EU Parliament
Election Trend
Part of the Government
The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) is one of the oldest and most influential parties in Austria. Founded in 1945, it represents a Christian-democratic and conservative worldview that is strongly oriented towards traditional values, the economy, and agricultural interests. It has solidified its position through modern communication and pragmatic politics in the middle of society.
GRÜNE
The Greens – The Green AlternativeEnvironment & Climate
EU Parliament
Election Trend
Part of the Government
The Greens – The Green Alternative (GRÜNE) are an Austrian party that advocates for environmental protection, social justice, and human rights. Founded in 1986, they first entered the National Council in 1986. Since 2020, they have been coalition partners of the ÖVP in the federal government. Their core values include direct democracy, nonviolence, ecology, solidarity, feminism, and self-determination.
FPÖ
Freedom Party of AustriaRight-wing
EU Parliament
Election Trend
The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) is a right-wing populist party in Austria, founded in 1956. It represents national conservative and EU-skeptical positions and has established itself as a significant political force in recent decades. In the 2024 National Council election, the FPÖ achieved 28.8% of the votes, placing first for the first time - a historic success.
SPÖ
Social Democratic Party of AustriaCentre-left
EU Parliament
Election Trend
The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) is one of the oldest and most significant political parties in Austria. Founded in 1889, it represents social democratic values such as freedom, equality, justice, and solidarity. The SPÖ advocates for social justice, equal opportunities, and the interests of workers, youth, and pensioners. It has been represented multiple times in the Austrian federal government and currently forms the state government in some federal states.
NEOS
NEOS – The New AustriaLiberal politics
EU Parliament
Election Trend
NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum is a liberal party in Austria that was founded in 2012. It stands for freedom, progress, and justice, emphasizing topics such as transparency, education, entrepreneurship, and climate protection. In the 2024 national elections, NEOS achieved about 9% of the votes and is represented in several state parliaments as well as in the National Council. The party is pro-European and a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.
Bierpartei
Beer PartySatire
EU Parliament
Election Trend
The Beer Party, founded in 2015 by Dominik Wlazny alias Marco Pogo, is an Austrian small party that appears with a mix of satire and serious political goals. Originally started as a humorous movement, it now advocates for issues like social justice, education, and anti-corruption. In the 2020 Vienna state election, it received 1.8% of the votes and has since provided several district councilors. In the 2024 National Council election, it ran nationwide for the first time but failed to enter the parliament.
KPÖ
Communist Party of AustriaLeft-wing
EU Parliament
Election Trend
The Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ) was founded in 1918 and is one of the oldest communist parties in the world. It advocates for social justice, the rights of the working class, and overcoming capitalism. Although it has not been represented in the National Council at the federal level since 1959, it has gained significance in some federal states, especially in Styria. In Graz, the second-largest city in Austria, the KPÖ has held the office of mayor since 2021 and is actively involved in social issues.
Keine
None of themLeft-wing
EU Parliament
Election Trend
The Austrian party 'NONE of them', short 'NONE', was founded by the left-wing movement 'The Change' to appeal to voters who feel unrepresented by the established parties. With provocative campaigns and the slogan 'NONE of them' on the ballot, the party aims to make a statement against corruption and political dissatisfaction. In the 2024 National Council election, 'NONE' ran nationwide but was unable to enter the National Council.
Liste Madeleine Petrovic
List Madeleine PetrovicCentre-left
EU Parliament
Election Trend
Liste Madeleine Petrovic is a center-left party from Austria.
MFG
MFG - People Freedom Fundamental RightsRight-wing
EU Parliament
Election Trend
The MFG Austria – People Freedom Fundamental Rights is a political party in Austria, founded in February 2021. It arose in the course of protests against the COVID-19 measures and positions itself as a critic of mandatory vaccinations and state restrictions. In the 2021 Upper Austria regional election, it surprisingly achieved 6.23% of the votes and entered the regional parliament with three mandates. The party emphasizes the importance of fundamental rights, freedom, and self-determination. However, it is often labeled by the media as an anti-vaccine minor party and is criticized for spreading conspiracy theories.