A Political and Economic Dictionary of Western Europe, First Edition
The Austrian People’s Party, or Österreichische Volkspartei (ÖVP), is the large Christian democratic party in Austria. Founded in 1945, the party traditionally represents the interests of farmers, entrepreneurs and public servants. The party promotes Christian values in politics and stands for a sustainable social market economy. It advocated a reform of Austria’s welfare state and a more flexible labour market. The party has favoured and campaigned for Austria’s membership of the European Union (EU) and promotes the eastern enlargement of the EU.
The ÖVP has governed for much of the post-war era. It formed a government on its own in 1966–70 and governed in a Grand Coalition with the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) in 1945–66 and in 1986–2000. Since 2000 the ÖVP has led a coalition with the extreme right-wing Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) under the leadership of Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel. Following the November 2002 general elections the party won 79 seats in the 183-seat Nationalrat, its best ever performance. Controversially it decided to form a second coalition with a weaker FPÖ, rather than negotiate a coalition with the SPÖ or the Green Party.
Party Leader: Wolfgang Schüssel
Address: Lichtenfelsgasse 7, 1010 Vienna, Austria
Tel: (0)1 40–126–0
Fax: (0)1 40–126–109
E-mail: E-mail@oevp.at
Internet: www.oevp.at
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