Socialists Fail to Win Majority; Austria ‘Grand Coalition’ Likely

The Socialist Party, dominant in Austrian politics for more than 16 years, failed Sunday to win a majority in national parliamentary elections, setting the stage for a likely “grand coalition” with the opposition conservative People’s Party.

The Socialists won 43.3% of the vote, the People’s Party 41.3%, the right-wing Freedom Party 9.7% and the environmentalist Greens got 4.6%.

Based on nearly complete returns, the Socialists won an estimated 80 of the 183 parliamentary seats, the People’s Party 76, the Freedom Party 18 and the Greens 9, the first ever for that party. In the outgoing Parliament, the Socialists held 90 seats, the People’s Party 81 and the Freedom Party 12.

No Link With Freedom Party

A “grand coalition” between the Socialists and the People’s Party was seen as the most likely result of the elections because Chancellor Franz Vranitzky has ruled out a coalition with the Freedom Party.

The election was originally slated for April, but Vranitzky moved the date forward when the Freedom Party, the junior coalition partner until now, adopted a position of right-wing nationalism that is also opposed by the People’s Party.

The Socialists faced a wave of conservative sentiment that brought former U.N. Secretary General Kurt Waldheim into the presidency in an election last June, despite allegations that he was involved in Nazi atrocities during World War II. Waldheim has denied any wrongdoing.

Vranitzky, 49, hoped to beat back the People’s Party challenge led by Alois Mock, 52. The Freedom Party ticket was topped by Joerg Haider, 36, whose election to the party leadership Sept. 13 signaled a sharp shift to the right and triggered Sunday’s election.

Image Tarnished

Rising unemployment, scandals and soaring public debt have tarnished the Socialists’ image, which reached its peak under Bruno Kreisky, who served an unparalleled four terms as chancellor.

Vranitzky, who is likely to remain chancellor, called for economic reforms usually opposed by the Socialists, including putting nationalized industries into private hands.

Mock billed himself as “the man who can do it better,” but during the campaign, he appeared to lack much of the polish and appeal of Vranitzky and Haider.

The Greens capitalized on concern about the environment caused by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in the Soviet Union and the recent chemical pollution of the Rhine river.