List of political parties in Austria

This article lists political parties in Austria. Austria has a multi-party system. Of the over 1,100 registered political parties, only few are known to the larger public. Since the 1980s, four parties have consistently received enough votes to get seats in the national parliament.

The parties

Party membership of parties in Austria, since 1945. Since 1986, the socialdemocratic party has started a quick decline in membership.

Parties represented in Parliament or the European Parliament

There are five parties represented in the National Council. Three of the parties in the National Council are also represented in the Federal Council. Four of the five parties in the National Council are represented in the European Parliament.

Logo		Name	Abbr.	Ideology	Chairmen	NR	BR	MEP
Government
		Austrian People's Party, Österreichische Volkspartei	ÖVP	Liberal conservatism, Christian democracy	Karl Nehammer	71 / 183	25 / 61	7 / 19
		The Greens – The Green Alternative, Die Grünen – Die Grüne Alternative	GRÜNE	Green politics	Werner Kogler	26 / 183	5 / 61	3 / 19
Opposition
		Social Democratic Party of Austria, Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs	SPÖ	Social democracy	Andreas Babler	40 / 183	19 / 61	5 / 19
		Freedom Party of Austria, Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs	FPÖ	National conservatism, Right-wing populism	Herbert Kickl	30 / 183	11 / 61	3 / 19
		NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum, NEOS – Das Neue Österreich und Liberales Forum	NEOS	Liberalism, Economic liberalism	Beate Meinl-Reisinger	15 / 183	1 / 61	1 / 19

Parties represented in state parliaments

• Citizens' Forum Austria (Bürgerforum Österreich, FRITZ)
• Communist Party of Austria (Kommunistische Partei Österreichs, KPÖ)
• MFG – Austria People – Freedom – Fundamental Rights (MFG – Österreich Menschen – Freiheit – Grundrechte, MFG)
• Team Carinthia (Team Kärnten, TK)

Minor parties

• Team HC Strache – Alliance for Austria (Team HC Strache – Allianz für Österreich, HC)
• Alliance for the Future of Austria (Bündnis Zukunft Österreich, BZÖ)
• Black-Yellow Alliance (Schwarz-Gelbe Allianz, SGA)
• The Beer Party (Die Bierpartei, BIER)
• Christian Party of Austria (Christliche Partei Österreichs, CPÖ)
• The Change (Der Wandel)
• Enotna Lista (Unity List, EL)
• My Vote Counts! (Meine Stimme g!lt, G!LT)
• Neutral Free Austria Federation (Bündnis Neutrales Freies Österreich, NFÖ)
• Party of Labour of Austria (Partei der Arbeit Österreichs, PdA)
• Pirate Party of Austria (Piratenpartei Österreichs, PPÖ)
• Socialist Left Party (Sozialistische LinksPartei, SLP)
• The Social Liberals (Die Sozialliberalen, SoL)
• Volt Austria (Volt Österreich)

Major historical parties

• Christian Social Party (Christlichsoziale Partei, CS, 1893–1933)
• Country League (Landbund, 1918–1934)
• Greater German People's Party (Großdeutsche Volkspartei, GDVP, 1918–1934)
• JETZT - Pilz List (JETZT – Liste Pilz, JETZT, 2017–2020)
• National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, NSDAP, 1919–1945)
• Fatherland Front (Vaterländische Front, VF, 1933–1938)
• Federation of Independents (Verband der Unabhängigen, VdU, 1949–1955)
• Social Democratic Workers Party of Austria (Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei Österreichs, SDAPÖ, 1888–1934), predecessor of today's SPÖ
• Team Stronach (2012–2017)

Minor historical parties

• Communist Initiative (Kommunistische Initiative, 2004–2013)
• Communist League of Austria (Kommunistischer Bund Österreichs, KBÖ, 1976–1980)
• Czechoslovak Social Democratic Workers Party in the Republic of Austria (Czech: Československá sociálně demokratická strana dělnická v republice Rakoúské, 1919–1934)
• Freedom Party in Carinthia (Die Freiheitlichen in Kärnten, FPK, 2009–2013)
• German-National Party (Deutsche Nationalpartei, 1891–1920)
• Jewish National Party (Jüdische Nationale Partei, 1892–1930)
• League of Democratic Socialists (Bund Demokratischer Sozialisten, BDS, 1959)
• Liberal Forum (Liberales Forum, LiF, 1993–2014)
• Marxist–Leninist Party of Austria (Marxistisch-Leninistische Partei Österreichs, MLPÖ, 1967–2006)
• The Democrats (Die Demokraten, 1991–2002)
• The Independents (Die Unabhängigen, DU, 1998–1999)
• Union of Revolutionary Workers of Austria (Marxist-Leninist) (Vereinigung Revolutionärer Arbeiter Österreichs (Marxisten-Leninisten), VRAÖ, 1968–2005)

See also

• History of Austria
• Liberalism in Austria
• List of political parties by country
• Politics of Austria

Further reading

• Müller, Wolfgang; Franz Fallend (November 2004). "Changing Patterns of Party Competition in Austria: From Multipolar to Bipolar System". West European Politics. 27 (5): 801–835. doi:10.1080/0140238042000283319. S2CID 154550537.