Despite the ÖVP being the big winner, this year’s election has some surprises in store
Austrians cast their votes in National elections on Sunday, and the first results are in:
Reaching a projected 31,4%, the conservative ÖVP with 31-year-old Sebastian Kurz at their head, are the indisputable winners. The left-centrist SPÖ and the far-right FPÖ are currently neck-to-neck for second place, with the FPÖ currently at 27,4%, putting them ahead of the SPÖ with 26,7%.
The NEOS and the Liste Pilz are both expected to reach the minimum 4% needed to sit in parliament, while the Green Party’s future is uncertain after nabbing a measly 3.8%. With 750,000 absentee ballots yet to be counted, results may change by as much as 2.2%. Final, certified election results are expected on Thursday.
Voter turnout reached nearly 80%, making it 5% higher than the last election in 2013. As no party reached a 50% majority, the winning ÖVP will be asked to form a coalition government and enter in negotiations with the other parties. As 92 mandates are necessary for a majority, any variation involving two of the top 3 finishers (The ÖVP, FPÖ and SPÖ) is possible. It typically takes about 2 months to create a new administration.
