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Austrian People's Party (OeVP) secretary general Hannes Missethon reacts after first public projections in Vienna Sept. 28, 2008. [Xinhua/Reuters]
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Though keeping the places of two largest parties in Austria, the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPOe) and Austrian People's Party (OeVP), who rule together in a grand coalition government, lost many votes in Austrian general election Sunday.
According to preliminary election results publicized by Austrian Television (ORF) on Sunday evening, SPOe won 29.2 percent of the total votes while OeVP won 25.2 percent, an obvious drop by 6.1 percent and 9.2 percent respectively from 2006 election.
SPOe and OeVP became Austria's first and second largest parties with slight difference in votes in 2006 general election and formed the current grand coalition government of Austria. However, the obvious drop in votes of both parties in the general election in 2008 shows the disappointment of Austrian voters for the performance of this grand coalition government.
The Freedom Party of Austra (FPOe) and Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZOe) received evidently more votes than before, jumping by seven percent and 6.9 percent respectively to 18 percent and 11 percent in this election. This shows voters hope that new political powers can influence Austria, and the obvious rise of votes for the two right parties also shows some Austrian's dissatisfaction with the tendency of internationalization.
The Austrian Green Party received 9.8 percent of the total votes, 1.3 percent less than last election.
As 16 and 17-year-olds are allowed to vote for the first time, the number of Austrian citizens with the right to vote reached a record high of 6.3 million. However, in view of the unwillingness and dislikeness shown by many voters before the election, Austrian President Heinz Fischer issued a statement on Friday to call upon voters to take part in the election so that the vote ratio can reach 80 percent.
The present Austrian coalition government came to power after the January 2007 election. Because of different ideas and more because of the need to redistribute power, OeVP declared on July 7this year not to govern the country together with SPOe any more. On the following day, major parties in Austrian national council agreed upon putting forward the election to the end of this September.
