Democracy in Austria
In a parliamentary democracy like Austria, all people should be able to voice their views and defend their interests in a spirit of mutual respect. This is the very basis on which all the rest is built.
Democracy and Elections
Who is entitled to vote? How are elections run, and what is the difference between party-list elections and majority (first-past-the-post) elections? Here is some basic information about elections in Austria.
Elections
Elections and Parliament are the backbone of democracy. The Government, Parliament, the Federal President – all political institutions envisaged by and defined in the Constitution are directly or indirectly derived from elections. What kind of elections are there in Austria and what are the rules by which they are run?
Electoral System
Have you ever wondered what it means to have universal, equal, direct, personal, secret, and free elections? A strong and thriving electoral system is the foundation of any functioning democracy.
How Parliaments are formed
Parliament is formed afresh after each National Council election. These are held every five years at the latest. Sometimes elections take place sooner than that, for instance when government parties terminate their cooperation because of insurmountable differences of opinion. It is a principle of democracy that Parliament should represent the interests of the largest possible number of citizens. This is why elections have to take place under very stringent and detailed rules.