2004 Austrian presidential election

2004 Austrian presidential election

← 1998 25 April 2004 2010 →
 
Nominee Heinz Fischer Benita Ferrero-Waldner
Party SPÖ ÖVP
Popular vote 2,166,690 1,969,326
Percentage 52.39% 47.61%


President before election

Thomas Klestil
ÖVP

President-Elect

Heinz Fischer
SPÖ

Presidential elections were held in Austria on 25 April 2004. While the post of President of Austria is a largely ceremonial one, presidential elections are conducted on a party basis and are seen as a test of the relative standing of the major parties.

The victorious candidate was Heinz Fischer of the opposition Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ). He defeated Benita Ferrero-Waldner, foreign minister in the ruling conservative coalition led by the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP).