Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05VIENNA3329
2005-10-11 09:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

SPO Wins Absolute Majority in Burgenland

Tags:  PGOV AU 
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UNCLAS VIENNA 003329 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/AGS

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PGOV AU
SUBJECT: SPO Wins Absolute Majority in Burgenland

Election

THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.

REF: Vienna 3269

UNCLAS VIENNA 003329

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/AGS

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PGOV AU
SUBJECT: SPO Wins Absolute Majority in Burgenland

Election

THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.

REF: Vienna 3269


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In state elections in Burgenland on

October 9, the Social Democrats won an absolute majority.

This followed a victory in Styrian state elections on

October 2 (reftel). The state chapter of Chancellor

Wolfgang Schuessel's People's Party (OVP) saw a modest

increase in support. The ailing Freedom Party (FPO) saw

its strength cut in half, but the FPO was able to retain

seats in the state legislature. The Greens came in

fourth, with marginal losses. Carinthian governor Joerg

Haider's BZO did not run. End Summary.


2. (U) Results (change from 2000)

OVP 36.3 Percent (+1.0) 13 seats (-)

SPO 52.2 Percent (+5.7) 19 seats (+2)

FPO 5.8 Percent (-6.9) 2 seats (-2)

Greens 5.2 Percent (-0.3) 2 seats (-)

Electorate: 242,200

Voter Turnout: 80.9 Percent


3. (SBU) According to the system of proportional

representation, the seven-member state government will

have four SPO councilors and three from the OVP.

However, the position of the OVP will be delicate,

because the SPO absolute majority in the legislature

means that the governing party will now be able to pass

legislation, including the budget, without support from

other parties.


4. (SBU) Observers attribute the SPO win to incumbent

governor Hans Niessl's personal popularity. They also

cite a national trend in favor of the Social Democrats in

state elections. The Burgenland SPO did not profit to

the same extent from the collapse of FPO voter support as

in state elections in Styria the week before. Instead,

the SPO was able to attract voters who had stayed away in

the 2000 election, as well as young first-time voters.

(The state legislature had lowered the voting age to 16.)


5. (SBU) The OVP managed to increase its proportion of

the vote for the first time since 1956, albeit by only 1

percentage point. But the OVP failed to reach its stated

goal of preventing an SPO absolute majority. The FPO was

happy enough to remain as the third strongest party in

the state legislature, even though it lost two seats. In

hindsight, the FPO strategy of preventing a run by

Carinthian governor Joerg Haider's BZO worked out. The

Greens had hoped to overtake the FPO. However, the

Greens, traditionally weak in rural areas such as

Burgenland, struggled with a deficit of issues -and of

attractive candidates.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: The SPO win in Burgenland was no

surprise. The SPO has filled the state's governorship

since 1964. However, the result adds to the impression

that the SPO is gaining momentum nationally. Tthe party

won the governorship of Styria from the People's Party on

October 2 (reftel). The Social Democrats are also on

track to retain their absolute majority in Vienna's state

elections on October 23. The OVP's problem is less a

function of its own popularity than of the collapse of

its one-time coalition partner, the FPO. With a year to

go before federal elections, Chancellor Schuessel will

keep a wary eye on prospects for a renewed coalition with

one or more FPO sucessor parties.

van Voorst