ABSTRACT
The Austrian electorate remained undecided, not only regarding which party to support, but also whether it was at all worthwhile to participate actively in the election. Austria's political course during the last two years of the people’s party (OVP)-led coalition didn't find a majority of the voters. Over a long period, all the polls showed a significant advantage for the social democratic party (SPO). OVP voters from the 2002 election who had been won from the Freedom Party, as well as traditional social democratic voters, saw a lack of social responsibility in the OVP. Fears of a two-tier health system, of an ever-widening gap in educational standards between Austria and comparable countries, and of a stagnation of real income growth were issues that benefited the SPO. The SPO could only win one state, but its losses were significantly less than the OVP's. This pattern could be seen all over Austria.
