1971 Austrian legislative election

1971 Austrian legislative election
← 1970 10 October 1971 1975 →
All 183 seats in the National Council of Austria
92 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Bruno Kreisky Hermann Withalm [de] Friedrich Peter
Party SPÖ ÖVP FPÖ
Last election 48.42%, 81 seats 44.69%, 78 seats 5.52%, 6 seats
Seats won 93 80 10
Seat change Increase 12 Increase 2 Increase 4
Popular vote 2,280,168 1,964,713 286,473
Percentage 50.04% 43.11% 6.29%
Swing Increase1.62pp Decrease1.58pp Increase0.77pp
Chancellor before election

Bruno Kreisky
SPÖ

Elected Chancellor

Bruno Kreisky
SPÖ

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Early parliamentary elections were held in Austria on 10 October 1971,[1] following electoral reforms intended to benefit smaller parties. The number of seats in the National Council was increased from 165 to 183, and the proportionality of the seat distribution was increased as well.[2]

The Socialist Party, which had governed as a minority government since 1970, won 93 of the 183 seats, a majority of two. Voter turnout was 92.4%.[3] It was the first time that the Socialists had won an absolute majority at an election. They also won just over half of the vote, something no Austrian party had previously achieved in a free election. Socialist leader Bruno Kreisky remained Chancellor.

  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p196 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. ^ Nohlen & Stöver, p188M
  3. ^ Nohlen & Stöver, p215