Liberal Party, Austria

Liberal Party, Austria Traditionally, the Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) could count on the support of 5–10 per cent of the voting population. During the 1980s, the FPÖ became increasingly nationalistic, turning from a centre party to one on the extreme right embracing elements of Fascism. Under the leadership of Jörg Haider, it sought to incite and exploit popular hostility towards the country's immigrants and resentment of the political system. This swing to the right led to the breakaway of the Liberales Forum, which received 5.7 per cent in the national elections of 9 October 1994. Nevertheless, from the beginning of Haider's leadership the FPÖ went from strength to strength, capturing over 22 per cent in the 1994 national elections, and over 30 per cent in many state elections. In 1999 it became the second strongest party in Parliament (National Council) by a margin of 415 votes, when it obtained 26.9 per cent of the popular vote. Its appeal had been strengthened by the perceived ossification of traditional Social Democratic and Christian Democratic elites, which were seen as distributing the spoils of power between themselves (Proporz). The FPÖ successfully presented itself as a party of the common person, and caused an international uproar when it joined the Christian Democrats in a government coalition. Mindful of international protests Haider declined any national political office, and resigned officially the leadership of his party. Nevertheless, Haider's charisma remained decisive for the party's appeal, even though the FPÖ was now led officially by the Vice-Chancellor, Susanne Riess-Passer.

http://www.fpoe.at