A regional election took place in Burgenland on Sunday, with around 250,000 eligible voters casting their ballots for the new state parliament. Polling stations closed at 4 pm, and the first projections were available shortly after. The results hold some surprises.
The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) remains the strongest force, securing 46.7 percent of the vote, but loses its absolute majority in the state parliament. According to the projections, the SPÖ will have 17 seats, a decline from the previous election.
The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) and the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) are engaged in a close race for second place. The FPÖ is projected to receive 22.8 percent of the vote, with the ÖVP close behind at 22.4 percent. Both parties are set to win eight and nine seats, respectively. The Greens secured a spot in the parliament with 5.6 percent of the vote and two seats, while the NEOS party failed to gain a seat with 1.8 percent of the vote.
The loss of the SPÖ’s absolute majority points to a possible political shift. The FPÖ, in particular, can be seen as a winner, with its top candidate Norbert Hofer performing well, while the ÖVP, despite national challenges, remained relatively stable.
The election in Burgenland is being viewed as an early test of the political mood for the year 2025. In the coming weeks, coalition talks between the parties, aimed at forming a government, are expected to be highly engaging.