Austria general election under way
Once-mighty two main political parties are projected to suffer their worst election result since 1945.
Austrians have begun voting in the country’s general election which will most likely see its two-party centrist
coalition stay in power but with possibly very poor results.
The Social Democrats (SPOe) and conservative People’s Party (OeVP) are vying for votes of some 6.4 million citizens as polls open Sunday.
While poised to win, the two-party coalition is predicted to set a record for their worst election result since 1945, which could see them needing a third party just to obtain a majority in parliament.
A lower level of support comes as many voters, looking for change, have opted to support different political parties.
Alternative groups such as the far-right Freedom Party – is set to win around 20 percent, also garnering support are newer, smaller groups like The New Austria (NEOS) and Team Stronach, the party of an 81-year-old Austro-Canadian billionaire.
The growing popularity of alternative campaigns is partially a consequence of the string of corruption scandals that have plagued many of the main parties during a time when Austria’s relative financial stability may be facing a crisis.