austria

Country information

• EU Constitution
  Ratification completed on 25 May 2005 (more).

• The Lisbon Treaty: ratified by the National Council on April 9, to be ratified by the Federal Council on April 24.

• EU Presidency: January-June 2006
  
  
• Government Type: federal republic
  
  
• Executive Branch
  
  � HEAD OF STATE
  President Heinz FISCHER (since 8 July 2004)
  
  � HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
  Chancellor Alfred GUSENBAUER (SP�) (since January 2007)
  
  � MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
  Ursula Plassnik
  
  � PARTIES IN GOVERNMENT COALITION
  SP�-�VP
  
  
• Legislative branch
  
  � ELECTIONS
  Last elections: 1 October 2006
  Next elections: 2010
  
  � ELECTION RESULTS (to the National Council in Oct 2006)
  SPOe 35,7%
  OeVP 34,3%
  Greens 11,05%
  FPOe 11,04%
  Alliance for the Future of Austria 4,1%
  
  
• Additional information
  
  � EXECUTIVE ELECTIONS
  President elected by direct popular vote for a six-year term. Presidential election last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held April 2010); chancellor traditionally chosen by the president from the plurality party in the National Council.
  
  � PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS
  Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) 52.4%
  Benita FERRERO-WALDNER (OeVP) 47.6%