1964 General Election - Austrian Election Series

[Cranberry]

While the VdU could score gains in the elections of 1962, the decimation of the ÖVP vote share meant an end to a majority for Austria's centre-right coalition. In fact, the leftist SPÖ and KPÖ opposition held 79 seats between them, as opposed to the government's 77, and it looked as if the FPÖ would hold the balance of power. This changed however, when in December 1962, as threatend before the election, the ÖVP's farmer's wing, the Bauernbund, voted to leave the party, spearheaded by Tirol's governor Hans Tschiggfrey, with them 7 of the party's 16 elected MPs. Most of them came from the state of Tirol, resulting in the Tirolean state ÖVP fully seceeding from the national party, and vowing to support a SPÖ-led government to an extent, moreso in opposition to the old government. The cabinet Pittermann, a SPÖ minority government supported by KPÖ and independent/Tirolean former-ÖVP MPs, was thus sworn in in January 1963.

The government was not able to pass much of their porgramme, but agreed on expanding subsidies for farmers, which was heavily opposed by the VdU. Any larger attempt on legislative novella proved futile due to the government's unstable majority, and so an early election was called by Chancellor Pittermann in 1964, hoping for a majority for his party.

Meanwhile, the ÖVP continued to lose votes in all statal elections, resulting in the party formally disbanding at its 1963 convention. The members of the Wirtschaftsbund, the party's entepreneurs wing, vowed to stay organized as a formal party-like organization, and formed an electoral alliance with the VdU for the 1964 election. The farmer's wing on the other hand, largely already seceeded from the party the year before, formed a new party, the Christlich-Soziale Partei (Christian Social Party), linking to the party of the same name in the First Republic, with a vaguely agrarian-populist, christian-social outlook, led by Tirol's new governor, Eduard Wallnöfer, following Tschiggfrey's death.

VdU & WB:
The joint list of VdU and the Wirtschaftsbund runs on massive opposition to the "chaotic government" of the last years, emphasising on the stability Austria had seen under the Kraus government. They reiterate their support for further "economic liberation" and vehemently oppose the government's allegedly protectionist and near-communist policies.

SPÖ:
Chancellor Pittermann's SPÖ wants to remain in government and win the first place, in order to tackle their agenda of a greater social harmony and further expansions to the social state. They put a strong line between themselves and the VdU, less so to the KPÖ however, as they know they will have to rely on that party's votes if they want to stay in government.

KPÖ:
The KPÖ has the main goal of scoring higher than the SPÖ, in order to have a bigger impact on the next government, as ministarial positions for the Communists had been thwarted by a "red scare" the last time. They openly state that they continue to support the government, provided it does expand the social state as promised.

FPÖ:
The FPÖ have won a talking point in their opposition to the "Bolshevist government", and relentlessly attack the SPÖ with being supported by the Communists, trying to score points with anti-communist voters.

CSP:
A new party, the CSP mainly campaigns in rural areas and in the state of Tirol, providing a message especially for farmers. Their message includes a strong basis on the Catholic Church, and an economically agenda that could be described as vaguely agrarian-populist, advocating for further farm subsidies and aids for small mountain farmers.

3 days

[Cranberry]

Secondly, I ask every Vdu/WB voter to state here in this thread if they want the two parties to formally merge into a new party, a simple yes or no should suffice. If you would think of a possible name for that party as well that would be great, as I am a bit clueless on that departement at the moment.

[Senator Spiral]

I vote to merge VdU/WB.

As for a new party name, if you're really desperate, how about looking to Austria's neighbor to the north and calling it the FDP?

[Dr. Cynic]

SPO

[Boston Bread]

KPO to keep it interesting. IRL I'd vote SPO of course.

[bmw1503]

Secondly, I ask every Vdu/WB voter to state here in this thread if they want the two parties to formally merge into a new party, a simple yes or no should suffice. If you would think of a possible name for that party as well that would be great, as I am a bit clueless on that departement at the moment.

I would say merge.

As far as the new name, perhaps the National Party?

[TDAS04]

SPO

[Boston Bread]

At this rate I don't think we'll ever get a normal coalition.

[Türkisblau]

I feel like CSP was made for me.

[DC Al Fine]

Christian Social Party

[VPH]

CSP

[Mr. Smith]

CSP

Not Catholic, but that church has enough similarities to make it work, or at least worth seeing what happens.

[H. Ross Peron]

SPO

[Zioneer]

KPO, let's keep a good thing going.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

VdU/WB.

I also support a merger, as for a name, I also support National Party.

[Cranberry]

I'm sorry for not offering any possibilities myself and now start nitpicking, but National Party might be a bit problematic this early on in regards to the NS-dictatorship and a question on whether Austria is indeed a nation on its own.

Anyway, thank you for your ideas, here are three possible suggestions, if I could again ask you, which would you prefer?

ÖNVP - Österreichische Nationale Volkspartei - Austrian National People's Party
DPÖ - Demokratische Partei Österreichs - Democratic Party of Austria
LKP - Liberalkonservative Partei - Liberal-Conservative Party

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

I'm sorry for not offering any possibilities myself and now start nitpicking, but National Party might be a bit problematic this early on in regards to the NS-dictatorship and a question on whether Austria is indeed a nation on its own.

Anyway, thank you for your ideas, here are three possible suggestions, if I could again ask you, which would you prefer?

ÖNVP - Österreichische Nationale Volkspartei - Austrian National People's Party
DPÖ - Demokratische Partei Österreichs - Democratic Party of Austria
LKP - Liberalkonservative Partei - Liberal-Conservative Party

how about Austrian Reform People's Party?

[Boston Bread]

Since VdB is the dominant element it would be odd to have "People's" in the name since it's reminiscent of the failed OVP.

[Senator Spiral]

I prefer LKP out of those.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

VdU/WB.

I also support a merger, as for a name, I also support National Party.

[Lumine]

VdU and I support the merger, LKP would be a great name.

[Cranberry]

You're right, NC, that a memory to the ÖVP in the name wouldn't be that wished for...
I'm right now strongly considering LKP, would be kinda like the Progressive Conservatives of Austria

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

I'm sorry for not offering any possibilities myself and now start nitpicking, but National Party might be a bit problematic this early on in regards to the NS-dictatorship and a question on whether Austria is indeed a nation on its own.

Anyway, thank you for your ideas, here are three possible suggestions, if I could again ask you, which would you prefer?

ÖNVP - Österreichische Nationale Volkspartei - Austrian National People's Party
DPÖ - Demokratische Partei Österreichs - Democratic Party of Austria
LKP - Liberalkonservative Partei - Liberal-Conservative Party

Liberal-Conservative Party sounds good to me!

[Zioneer]

Sheesh, the VdU are doing really well. Somebody vote SPO/KPO to balance them out, 21 votes for the VdU is crazy!

[Cranberry]

Sheesh, the VdU are doing really well. Somebody vote SPO/KPO to balance them out, 21 votes for the VdU is crazy!

Yes, there absolutely should be more votes for our left