site.bta"Final Preliminary Results" in Austrian Elections Are Now Out, Austrian Freedom Party Wins

The "final preliminary results" of the parliamentary elections in Austria are now out, confirming the victory of the Austrian Freedom Party, which wins the most seats in the National Council elections for the first time since 1945 (with 28.8%).

On Thursday, the Ministry of the Interior will announce officially the election results after all mail ballots have been counted, but the likelihood of the result changing is negligible. 

The Austrian People's Party ranks second with 26.3% and the Austrian Social Democratic Party scores a record low of 21.1%. NEOS is projected to win 9.2%, its best result in a national election, while the Greens lose around five percent and collect 8.3%.

According to the latest forecasts, small parties fail to break the 4% barrier.

After counting 98.6% of the ballots and with a margin of error of 0.4 percentage points, the seats in the new parliament will be distributed as follows: the Austrian Freedom Party 56 seats, the Austrian People's Party 52, the Austrian Social Democratic Party 41, NEOS 18 and the Greens - Green Alternative 16.

Turnout has increased compared to the 2019 vote. According to the estimates, 78.5% of those eligible to vote went to the polls. In 2019, turnout was 75.59%.

In his first statement, President Alexander van der Bellen described the "democratic rules of the game" in forming a government: the party that gets 50% of the vote and over can have its own government. "Anyone who fails to overcome 50% on their own must convince other parties," Van der Bellen said.

The task now is to approach each other, to find compromises and lasting solutions, he said adding that his task is to appoint the chancellor and the members of the new federal government. "As my conscience dictates, I will ensure that the basic pillars of democracy will be respected in the formation of the government."

Political observers are already speculating about possible future coalitions after the Austrian People's Party and the Austrian Social Democratic Party said they would not partner with the Austrian Freedom Party. Kickl has already laid claim to the chancellorship, but constitutionally the president is not required to put him in charge of forming a government.