Austrian presidential election, 1986

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Presidential elections were held in Austria on 4 May 1986 with a second round on 8 June 1986. Kurt Waldheim, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, endorsed by the Austrian People's Party was elected. Following Waldheim's victory, Chancellor Fred Sinowatz and other government members of the defeated Socialist Party stepped down, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs Leopold Gratz, who said he refused to "direct the Austrian foreign service in the defense of President Waldheim." [1]

Austria Federal republic in Central Europe

Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in Central Europe comprising 9 federated states. Its capital, largest city and one of nine states is Vienna. Austria has an area of 83,879 km2 (32,386 sq mi), a population of nearly 9 million people and a nominal GDP of $477 billion. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Hungary and Slovakia to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The terrain is highly mountainous, lying within the Alps; only 32% of the country is below 500 m (1,640 ft), and its highest point is 3,798 m (12,461 ft). The majority of the population speaks local Bavarian dialects as their native language, and German in its standard form is the country's official language. Other regional languages are Hungarian, Burgenland Croatian, and Slovene.

Kurt Waldheim 4th Secretary-General of the United Nations, President of Austria

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Results

e    d  Summary of the 4 May and 8 June 1986 Austrian presidential election results
Candidates and affiliated parties1st round2nd round
Votes%Votes%
Kurt Waldheim Non-partisan2,343,46349.6%2,464,78753.9%
Kurt Steyrer Socialist Party of Austria 2,061,10443.7%2,107,02346.1%
Freda Meissner-Blau Green Party 259,6895.5%
Otto Scrinzi Freedom Party of Austria 55,7241.2%
Total 4,719,980 100%4,571,810 100%
 
Valid votes 4,719,980 97% 4,571,810 96.3%
Spoilt and null votes 144,729 3% 174,039 3.7%
Votes cast / turnout 4,864,709 89.5% 4,745,849 87.3%
Electorate 5,436,846 5,436,846
†endorsed by Austrian People's Party
Source: Austrian ministry of Interior

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References

  1. Jill Smolowe. Reported by Gertraud Lessing/Vienna and Robert Slater/Jerusalem (21 July 1986) AUSTRIA LAST HURRAHS Few smiles after a big victory, TIME, retrieved 26 May 2010.