ABSTRACT
The main political event in 2002 was the early National Council elections on 24 November. The drama of these elections rested upon events. In February 2000, the FPO-OVP coalition government was set up, and the next regular elections were due to be held in autumn 2003. Haider also used other opportunities to disavow those within the FPO who were trying to succeed in government and Austria as a whole. Haider also used other opportunities to disavow those within the FPO who were trying to succeed in government and Austria as a whole. His visit to Saddam Hussein in Baghdad in 2002 caused anger among Austria's political elites. Despite the fact that a government without the OVP was more than unrealistic, the negotiations of the OVP with the other three political parties seemed to be endless.
