1953 General Election - Austrian Election Series

[Cranberry]

The 1949 election brought a reversal of the situation, and yet more of the same. The SPÖ had overtaken the ÖVP as strongest party, moreso however due to strong ÖVP losses. The SPÖ gained moderately, the KPÖ lost moderately and the new WdU won about the same share as support as the KPÖ, resulting in a hung parliament and no majority for one single party. SPÖ and ÖVP however soon agreed to again form a Grand Coalition, this time with a role reversal however - Schärf became Chancellor, while new ÖVP leader Raab, following Figl's defeat in the election, became Vice Chancellor.

The economic policies of the preceeding government were continued, and on the diplomatic front, full attention was brought to regain full sovereignity for Austria. Attempts on this front, however, were often blocked by Josef Stalin, trying to block to get another country further into the influx sphere of the Americans.

By 1953, little had changed in Austria, but continually, the economic situation has improved, giving new hope to the people of the country. The same parties as 1949 contest this election:

SPÖ:
The SPÖ under Adolf Schärf campaigns on the success the nation has had on the economical front, capitalizing on the economic upturn with the help of the Marshall Plan. They also claim that negotiations regarding Austria's future as a sovereign nation soon will be completed, telling Austrians to rely on Foreign Minister Bruno Kreisky.

ÖVP:
The ÖVP's platform has little changed since 1949, with new leader Julius Raab emphasizing the same talking points as Figl had four years earlier: farmers, the church, and strong anti-communism. The conservative party had supported measures to relief the economy via nationalisation earlier, but now they have found more free market positions, denouncing any all too further involvement of the state in areas of industry as "communist".

KPÖ:
The KPÖ have retained their leader, Johann Koplenig, and their political positions - full scale, Soviet-modeled communism. Within the ever more escalating conflict between East and West, the KPÖ is the option for any Austrian that wishes the country to join the rank of many of its neighbours to the east, and be on its way to become a "People's Democracy".

VdU:
The WdU (Wahlpartei der Unabhängigen - Electoral Party of Independents) has changed its name to VdU (Verband der Unabhängigen - Union of Independents) after welcoming some right-conservative ÖVP split-offs in their ranks, but its nominally vaguely-liberal-ish positions and factually state of being the Nazi's choice has little changed. Once again, Herbert Alois Kraus, leads the party.

3 days
Me: SPÖ

[H. Ross Peron]

SPO again.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

OVP

[Mr. Smith]

SPOe

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

KPO. I can imagine that if I was young in Austria at the time, I may have naively respected the USSR, until the crushing of Nagy in 1956.

[Lief 🗽]

KPO. I can imagine that if I was young in Austria at the time, I may have naively respected the USSR, until the crushing of Nagy in 1956.

Yeah, most of the left-wingers on this forum would have supported communist parties until 1956. And that's how I've been voting.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

It would seem Scharf is on track to be re-elected as Chancellor despite being a major anti-Semite and a Nazi collaborator

[Goldwater]

OVP

[Zioneer]

It would seem Scharf is on track to be re-elected as Chancellor despite being a major anti-Semite and a Nazi collaborator

Looks like the OVP is winning now, and they and the SPO will trade the Chancellorship again.

[politicus]

Looks like we will get an endless succession of Grand Coalitions.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Looks like we will get an endless succession of Grand Coalitions.

I'm hoping for Chancellor Stronach at the end

[Cranberry]

Looks like we will get an endless succession of Grand Coalitions.

At least until after 1955, yes. It's simply reality until then though - Stalin would have never accepted the Nazis in government, and the KPÖ wasn't that well liked with the other parties then - so Grand Coalition default. Later on, though, I will try to experiment a bit with the results, if you shall let me, and get back to the GC option only if there is no other plausible way.

[Cranberry]

Still about 24 hours to vote here!

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

ÖVP as usual.

[Cranberry]

Looks like we will get an endless succession of Grand Coalitions.

I'm hoping for Chancellor Stronach at the end

That would indeed by an interesting scenario. Let me keep that in mind for later

[Cranberry]

Voting is now closed, thank you for your numerous participation and great interest.