Austria: Political Developments and Data in 2022

Abstract

Austrian politics in 2022 was affected by high levels of public dissatisfaction. The year was dominated by pandemic fatigue, rising inflation and the reconditioning of the so-called Austrian People's Party/Österreichische Volkspartei (ÖVP) corruption-affaire. Consequently, the national government parties of the Christian-Democratic ÖVP and the Greens/Die Grünen–Die Grüne Alternative (GRÜNE) further lost at the polls, while the main opposition parties—especially the right-wing Austrian Freedom Party/Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs—gained public support. The presidential election in October confirmed a second term for the sitting President, Alexander Van der Bellen. The regional election in Tyrol brought severe losses for the regional (and national) governing parties, ÖVP and Greens. Despite its losses, the ÖVP secured its position in regional government and formed a coalition with the Austrian Social Democratic Party/Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs after the election in Tyrol.