1959 Austrian legislative election

Parliamentary elections were held in Austria on 10 May 1959.[1] Although the Social Democratic Party received the most votes, the Austrian People's Party retained a bare one-seat plurality. The Communist Party of Austria lost its remaining three seats and has not returned to the National Council since. Voter turnout was 94.2%.[2] The grand coalition that had governed the country since 1945 remained in office, with People's Party leader Julius Raab as Chancellor and Socialist leader Bruno Pittermann as Vice-Chancellor.

1959 Austrian legislative election

10 May 1959
165 seats in the National Council of Austria 83 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Leader Julius Raab Bruno Pittermann Party ÖVP SPÖ Leader since 1951 1957 Last election 82 seats, 46.31% 74 seats, 43.38% Seats won 79 78 Seat change 3 4 Popular vote 1,928,043 1,953,935 Percentage 44.19% 44.79% Swing 2.12% 1.41%   Third party Fourth party   Leader Friedrich Peter Johann Koplenig Party FPÖ KPÖ Leader since 1958 1924 Last election 6 seats, 6.57% 3 seats, 4.46% Seats won 8 0 Seat change 2 3 Popular vote 336,110 142,578 Percentage 7.70% 3.28% Swing 1.13% 1.18%
Chancellor before election Julius Raab ÖVP Elected Chancellor Julius Raab ÖVP

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Socialist Party of Austria	1,953,935	44.8	78	+4
	Austrian People's Party	1,928,043	44.2	79	–3
	Freedom Party of Austria	336,110	7.7	8	+2
	Communists and Left Socialists	142,578	3.3	-	–3
	League of Democratic Socialists	2,190	0.1	-	New
Invalid/blank votes		61,802	–	–	–
Total		4,424,658	100	165	0
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Popular vote SPÖ   44.78% ÖVP   44.19% FPÖ   7.70% KuL   3.27% BDS   0.05%

Parliamentary seats ÖVP   47.88% SPÖ   47.27% FPÖ   4.85%

References

1. Nohlen, Dieter; Stöver, Philip (31 May 2010). Elections in Europe: A data handbook. Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft. p. 196. ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7.
2. Nohlen & Stöver, p214