1970 Austrian legislative election

Parliamentary elections were held in Austria on 1 March 1970.[1] The result was a victory for the Socialist Party, which won 81 of the 165 seats to become the largest party for the first time in the Second Republic. With the SPÖ two seats short of a majority, SPÖ leader Bruno Kreisky became Chancellor at the head of a minority government that was tolerated by the Freedom Party of Austria in return for electoral reforms that benefitted smaller parties by increasing the proportionality of votes and seats.[2] Voter turnout was 91.8%.[3] It was the first Socialist-led government since 1920, and the first purely left-wing government in Austrian history. The SPÖ would lead the government for the next 29 years.

1970 Austrian legislative election

1 March 1970

165 seats in the National Council of Austria
83 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Bruno Kreisky Josef Klaus Friedrich Peter
Party SPÖ ÖVP FPÖ
Last election 42.56%, 74 seats 48.35%, 85 seats 5.35%, 6 seats
Seats won 81 78 6
Seat change Increase 7 Decrease 7 Steady
Popular vote 2,221,981 2,051,012 253,425
Percentage 48.42% 44.69% 5.52%
Swing Increase5.86pp Decrease3.66pp Increase0.17pp

Results of the election, showing seats won by constituency and nationwide. Constituencies are shaded according to the first-place party.

Chancellor before election

Josef Klaus
ÖVP

Elected Chancellor

Bruno Kreisky
SPÖ

Early elections under the new system were held the following year, at which the Socialists won an outright majority.

Results

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Socialist Party of Austria2,221,98148.4281+7
Austrian People's Party2,051,01244.6978–7
Freedom Party of Austria253,4255.5260
Communist Party of Austria44,7500.9800
Democratic Progressive Party14,9250.3300
National Democratic Party2,6310.060New
Adolf Glantschnig – For Humanity, Law and Freedom in Austria2370.010New
Total4,588,961100.001650
Valid votes4,588,96199.10
Invalid/blank votes41,8900.90
Total votes4,630,851100.00
Registered voters/turnout5,045,84191.78
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

References

  1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p196 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. Nohlen & Stöver, p188
  3. Nohlen & Stöver, p215
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