Last modified: 2022-12-27 by martin karner
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For decades after WW2 Austrian politics were dominated by the two biggest parties, often forming grand coalitions. The two parties were
the conservative-christian democratic ÖVP and the social-democratic
SPÖ. Since the mid-80ies, however, a smaller party gained more and
more electoral support, the FPÖ (Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs /
Liberal Party of Austria), led by Jörg Haider. In spite of its name, this party is not "liberal" in the usual sense of the word, but rather a
right-populist party with a strong xenophobic undercurrent. The two bigger parties lost more and more support to the FPÖ, so that in the
1999 parliamentary elections SPÖ, FPÖ and ÖVP gained almost exactly the same amount of votes. The result (after a long struggle) was a coalition
government of ÖVP and FPÖ under Chancellor Schüssel. This government was renewed after the 2002 elections, that
had led to a major success for the ÖVP and a defeat of the FPÖ.
Two other parties have or had seats in the parliament, namely the Greens
and a liberal split-off of the FPÖ, the LiF . Beside several smaller, rather insignificant
parties, the KPÖ (Kommunistische Partei Österreichs / Communist Party of
Austria), is rather active (and rich, by the way), although it was never really successful in elections.
The result of the most recent elections (2002) to the federal parliament (Nationalrat):
ÖVP 42,30%
SPÖ 36,51%
FPÖ 10,01%
Grüne 9,47%
LiF 0,98% (no seat)
KPÖ 0,56% (no seat)
others 0,17% (no seat)
Sources:
http://www.bmi.gv.at/wahlen/nationalratswahl_2002_gesamterge.asp
Alan J. Day, Richard German, John Campbell (1996) Political Parties of the World (4th ed). London (Cartermill).
M. Schmöger, 20 August 2003
What regards the flags of the Austrian political parties, I don't have much info yet. In the important book by Diem [die95] the logos of the parties are shown, but not many flags. Up to now I only have information on flags of the KPÖ, SPÖ and Grüne. In the WWW I could not find much on party flags, especially because the Austrian parties do not sell party flags in their online shops.
M. Schmöger, 20 August 2003
image
by M. Schmöger and Tomislav Todorovic, 14 May 2018
One flag shown in [die95], is red with the old party logo in the center. The party logo was hammer & sickle over the Austrian national
flag.
On the KPÖ website there are many
photos of demonstrations with flags. However, these photos are rather small and do
not show the flags in detail. All of the flags seem to be red, either plain red flags or with some small device. In one case also small paper
flags, plain red with white hammer&sickle, were shown.
image1;
image2; image3
from KPÖ website
image
by M. Schmöger
At least one flag can be discerned on several photos. This seems to be the new party flag, as it shows the newer party logo in the canton of a
red flag. This logo is the black (fimbriated white) inscription "KPÖ".
image1;
image2;
image3
from KPÖ website
Several interesting historical flags of the KPÖ and affiliated organizations seem to be in the archives of the
Alfred-Klahr-Gesellschaft. However, they write, that these flags "are not accessible". Some flags are shown there, obviously mostly from the
time between the two world wars, including flags used by Austrian volunteers during the Spanish Civil War.
http://www.klahrgesellschaft.at/Fahnen.html
M. Schmöger, 20 August 2003
In Flag Report 37 (unpublished yet) there's an article about communist flags
in the world. The KPÖ is, of course, represented. I send to Vexillum-Mailing
List two
images (photos) where the flags can be seen better.
In the article are also mentioned the flags of some related organizations
(Gewerkschaftlicher Linksblock, Youths, Pacifist).
I believe that I got some more information from KPÖ provided by Lucien
Philippe, but is still in the folder of unclassified material.
The
Communist Party was created in November 1919 but forbidden in 1933.
It was re-established 1945.
The official flag seems to be the one with a hammer and
sickle in the center, but currently is less used that the red flag with logo in
canton. I don't know if the flag with hammer and sickle was changed (even if
the old flags are yet eventually used) or both are used at same time.
I don't have information about the flag bearing the logo with Austrian flag
below the hammer and sickle. I have interest in knowing what dates it was used
(or if is used currently).
Jaume Ollé, 20 August 2003
image
located by Jan Merten, 23 February 2011
NVA or Nationale Volkspartei (i.e. National People’s Party) is an Austrian
party of the extreme right founded in 2007. As is often the case, rightist party
flags are rather striking - the urge to impress, visually in this case, is very
large. See this page:
http://www.krone.at/Oesterreich/Nationale_Volkspartei_darf_in_OOe_nicht_antreten-NVP_abgelehnt-Story-157197.
Red field, within a broad white gearwheel the Austrian national flag in
white outline. Of course this item appears on party videos, in some cases
drawings show a black gearwheel:
http://www.nvp.at/?cat=87. Another example, by the way, of a beflagged flag.
Jan Mertens, 23 February 2011
See also: