1986 Austrian presidential election

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]

1986 Austrian presidential election

4 May 1986 (First Round) 8 June 1986 (Second Round)

Nominee Kurt Waldheim Kurt Steyrer Party Independent (ÖVP) SPÖ Home state Lower Austria Upper Austria Popular vote 2,464,787 2,107,023 Percentage 53.91% 46.09%

President before election Rudolf Kirchschläger SPÖ Elected President Kurt Waldheim Independent (ÖVP)

Results

 Summary of the 4 May and 8 June 1986 Austrian presidential election results

Candidates and affiliated parties			1st round		2nd round
			Votes	%	Votes	%
	Kurt Waldheim	Non-partisan†	2,343,463	49.6%	2,464,787	53.9%
	Kurt Steyrer	Socialist Party of Austria	2,061,104	43.7%	2,107,023	46.1%
	Freda Meissner-Blau	Green Party	259,689	5.5%
	Otto Scrinzi	Freedom Party of Austria*	55,724	1.2%
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 *endorsed by National Democratic Party Source: Austrian ministry of Interior

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.