politics of Austria

political system of Austria

Key facts

Polity type: Federal Semi-presidential republic
Constitution: Constitution of Austria
Name: Parliament
Type: Bicameral
Meeting place: Parliament Building (normally) , Hofburg (provisionally)
Presiding officer: Markus Stotter , President of the Federal Council
Appointer: Indirect elections
Title: President
Currently: Alexander van der Bellen
Current cabinet: Stocker government
Leader: Chancellor
Deputy leader: Vice Chancellor

~25 min read

Article

Politics in Austria reflects the dynamics of competition among multiple political parties, Currently, the country is governed by President Alexander Van der Bellen who became president after the 2016 Austrian presidential election and Stocker government, formed following the elections of 29 September 2024.

Austrian politics takes place within the constitutional framework of a federal semi-presidential republic, with a President (Bundespräsident) serving as head of state and a Chancellor (Bundeskanzler) as head of government. Governments, both local and federal, exercise executive power. Federal legislative power is vested both in the Federal Government and in the two chambers of Parliament; the National Council (Nationalrat) and the Federal Council (Bundesrat). The Judiciary of Austria is independent of the executive and legislative branches of government.