Austrian legislative election, 2008
Overview
A legislative snap election
for the National Council
in Austria was held on 28 September 2008. The previous election
was held on 1 October 2006. The election (the 24th in Austrian history) was caused by the withdrawal of Austrian People's Party
leader Wilhelm Molterer
from the governing grand coalition
(led by the Social Democratic Party of Austria
) on 7 July 2008. Due to dissatisfaction with the grand coalition and the two main parties, it was widely expected to be a realigning election
, with gains for the opposition and up to seven parties expected to be in the National Council
after the election.
Snap election
A snap election is an election called earlier than expected. Generally it refers to an election in a parliamentary system called when not required , usually to capitalize on a unique electoral opportunity or to decide a pressing issue...
for the National Council
National Council of Austria
The National Council is one of the two houses of the Austrian parliament. According to the constitution, the National Council and the complementary Federal Council are peers...
in Austria was held on 28 September 2008. The previous election
Austrian legislative election, 2006
The 2006 general election for the National Council in Austria was held on 1 October 2006.Following the Austrian legislative election, 1999, the Austrian People's Party had formed a coalition government with the Austrian Freedom Party , and later the Alliance for the Future of Austria .As a result...
was held on 1 October 2006. The election (the 24th in Austrian history) was caused by the withdrawal of Austrian People's Party
Austrian People's Party
The Austrian People's Party is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Austria. A successor to the Christian Social Party of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it is similar to the Christian Democratic Union of Germany in terms of ideology...
leader Wilhelm Molterer
Wilhelm Molterer
Wilhelm Molterer is Vice-President and member of the Management Committee of the European Investment Bank . Before joining the EIB, he was Member of the Austrian Parliament...
from the governing grand coalition
Grand coalition
A grand coalition is an arrangement in a multi-party parliamentary system in which the two largest political parties of opposing political ideologies unite in a coalition government...
(led by the Social Democratic Party of Austria
Social Democratic Party of Austria
The Social Democratic Party of Austria is one of the oldest political parties in Austria. The SPÖ is one of the two major parties in Austria, and has ties to trade unions and the Austrian Chamber of Labour. The SPÖ is among the few mainstream European social-democratic parties that have preserved...
) on 7 July 2008. Due to dissatisfaction with the grand coalition and the two main parties, it was widely expected to be a realigning election
Realigning election
Realigning election are terms from political science and political history describing a dramatic change in the political system. Scholars frequently apply the term to American elections and occasionally to other countries...
, with gains for the opposition and up to seven parties expected to be in the National Council
National Council of Austria
The National Council is one of the two houses of the Austrian parliament. According to the constitution, the National Council and the complementary Federal Council are peers...
after the election.