Only one of the eight directly elected heads of state resigned: Kurt Waldheim in 1992, after the discussion about his Nazi past had opened up great rifts in 1986. Theodor Körner died in the first period.Vienna. There have been 13 terms of office (including the first of Alexander Van der Bellen, which ended on January 26, 2023) since the introduction of direct elections in 1951. Eight Federal Presidents have contested these terms. Five of them competed a second time – and all with success.
Not only were they re-elected, but they got more approval in the second election than in the first – especially from Rudolph Kirchschlager. After the SPÖ had nominated him in 1974, the non-party candidate entered the race for his second candidacy as a joint candidate for the SPÖ and ÖVP. From this election in 1980, unlike before, the other traditional party renounced its own candidate when the incumbent Federal President ran for re-election.
The very popular and respected Kirchschläger also set the Hofburg record in his second election with 79.87 percent (after 51.66 percent in 1974). Heinz Fischer came very close when he was re-elected in 2010 with 79.33 percent – but with the downside of the by far lowest voter turnout of only 53.57 percent. Because the ÖVP had refused him support, referring to his career as an SPÖ politician. Although Fischer suspended his party membership as soon as he took office and appeared as a non-party candidate in the second application.
It was similar before Thomas Klestil – who, after being nominated by the ÖVP in 1992, also stood up as an independent six years later (supported by an ÖVP personal committee). He was not supported by the SPÖ either, and so his re-election result was higher, but at 63.42 percent far lower than that of Kirchschläger.
With well under 60 percent, they also had to vote for re-election Adolf Sharpe (55.41 percent in 1963) and Franz Jonas (52.78 percent in 1971). Because at that time, the ÖVP always nominated opposing candidates when the Federal President applied for a second term. By the way, Jonas’ opponent for re-election was Kurt Waldheimwho only made it into the Hofburg on the second attempt in 1986.
FPÖ with its own candidate
Van der Bellen was elected – in the 2016 election marathon – on December 4, 2016 with 53.79 percent, in a jump-off against the FPÖ candidate Norbert Hofer. This year he will not apply again – but has announced one for 2028. Then, once Van der Bellen has completed a second period, he can no longer compete. In any case, the FPÖ wants to send a candidate into the race. ÖVP and SPÖ have already let it be known several times that they will not be there this year in the event of Van der Bellen’s re-candidate – and the Neos want to support Van der Bellen.
Source: Nachrichten
