1971 Austrian legislative election

1971 Austrian legislative election

10 October 1971
All 183 seats in the National Council of Austria 92 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Bruno Kreisky Hermann Withalm Friedrich Peter Party SPÖ ÖVP FPÖ Last election 48.42%, 81 seats 44.69%, 78 seats 5.52%, 6 seats Seats won 93 80 10 Seat change 12 2 4 Popular vote 2,280,168 1,964,713 286,473 Percentage 50.04% 43.11% 6.29% Swing 1.62pp 1.58pp 0.77pp
Chancellor before election Bruno Kreisky SPÖ Elected Chancellor Bruno Kreisky SPÖ

Early parliamentary elections were held in Austria on 10 October 1971, following electoral reforms intended to benefit smaller parties. The number of seats in the National Council was increased from 165 to 183, and the proportionality of the seat distribution was increased as well.

The Socialist Party, which had governed as a minority government since 1970, won 93 of the 183 seats, a majority of two. Voter turnout was 92.4%. It was the first time that the Socialists had won an absolute majority at an election. They also won just over half of the vote, something no Austrian party had previously achieved in a free election. Socialist leader Bruno Kreisky remained Chancellor.

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Socialist Party of Austria	2,280,168	50.04	93	+12
	Austrian People's Party	1,964,713	43.11	80	+2
	Freedom Party of Austria	248,473	5.45	10	+4
	Communist Party of Austria	61,762	1.36	0	0
	Offensive Left	1,874	0.04	0	New
Total		4,556,990	100.00	183	+18
Valid votes		4,556,990	98.90
Invalid/blank votes		50,626	1.10
Total votes		4,607,616	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		4,984,448	92.44
Source: Nohlen & Stöver