1999 Austrian legislative election

Parliamentary elections were held in Austria on 3 October 1999.[1] Although the Social Democratic Party remained the largest party in the National Council, a right-wing coalition government was formed by the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) and the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) after several months of negotiations. Although the FPÖ had finished a fraction of a point ahead of the ÖVP in the popular vote, ÖVP leader Wolfgang Schüssel became Chancellor rather than controversial FPÖ leader Jörg Haider. Haider, who had also been elected Landeshauptmann of Carinthia, was not appointed to the cabinet and resigned as party leader.[2]

1999 Austrian legislative election

3 October 1999
All 183 seats in the National Council 92 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	80.42% (5.56pp)
First party Second party   Leader Viktor Klima Jörg Haider Party SPÖ FPÖ Last election 38.06%, 71 seats 21.89%, 41 seats Seats won 65 52 Seat change 6 11 Popular vote 1,532,448 1,244,087 Percentage 33.15% 26.91% Swing 4.91pp 5.02pp   Third party Fourth party   Leader Wolfgang Schüssel Alexander Van der Bellen Party ÖVP Greens Last election 28.29%, 52 seats 4.81%, 9 seats Seats won 52 14 Seat change 0 5 Popular vote 1,243,672 342,260 Percentage 26.91% 7.40% Swing 1.38pp 2.59pp
Results of the election, showing seats won by state and nationwide. States are shaded according to the first-place party.
Chancellor before election Viktor Klima SPÖ Elected Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel ÖVP

However, foreign governments remained critical of the FPÖ's inclusion in the government and the fourteen other member countries of the European Union imposed sanctions on the country, whilst domestically the government faced protests organised by the SPÖ and Greens.[2] However, this pressure on the government helped stabilise it and when it became clear that the FPÖ was not going to be excluded from government, sanctions were lifted.[2]

Voter turnout was 80.4%.[3]