1983 Austrian legislative election

Parliamentary elections were held in Austria on 24 April 1983.^[1][2][3] The result was a victory for the Socialist Party, which won 90 of the 183 seats. However, the Socialists lost the outright majority they had held since 1971, prompting Bruno Kreisky to stand down as SPÖ leader and Chancellor in favour of Fred Sinowatz. The SPÖ stayed in office by entering into a coalition government with the Freedom Party of Austria, which at this point was a liberal party. Voter turnout was 93%.^[4][5]

1983 Austrian legislative election

← 1979 24 April 1983 1986 →
All 183 seats in the National Council 92 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Bruno Kreisky Alois Mock Norbert Steger Party SPÖ ÖVP FPÖ Last election 51.03%, 95 seats 41.90%, 77 seats 6.06%, 11 seats Seats won 90 81 12 Seat change 5 4 1 Popular vote 2,312,529 2,097,808 241,789 Percentage 47.65% 43.22% 4.98% Swing 3.38pp 1.32pp 1.08pp
Results of the election, showing seats won by state and nationwide. States are shaded according to the first-place party.
Chancellor before election Bruno Kreisky SPÖ Elected Chancellor Fred Sinowatz SPÖ

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Socialist Party of Austria	2,312,529	47.65	90	–5
	Austrian People's Party	2,097,808	43.22	81	+4
	Freedom Party of Austria	241,789	4.98	12	+1
	United Greens of Austria	93,798	1.93	0	New
	Alternative List Austria	65,816	1.36	0	New
	Communist Party of Austria	31,912	0.66	0	0
	Austria Party	5,851	0.12	0	New
	Stop Immigrants Movement	3,914	0.08	0	New
Total		4,853,417	100.00	183	0
Valid votes		4,853,417	98.60
Invalid/blank votes		69,037	1.40
Total votes		4,922,454	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		5,316,436	92.59
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

References

1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p196 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
2. Sully, Melanie A. (1984). "The 1983 Austrian election". West European Politics. 7 (1): 119–123. doi:10.1080/01402388408424462. ISSN 0140-2382.
3. Pulzer, Peter (1983). "The Austrian general election of 1983". Electoral Studies. 2 (3): 275–280. doi:10.1016/S0261-3794(83)80035-3. ISSN 0261-3794.
4. Fred Sinowatz: Reluctant chancellor of Austria The Independent, 7 September 2008
5. Nohlen & Stöver, p215