In a jaw-dropping upset, the right-wing populist FPÖ (Freedom Party of Austria) clinched a record-breaking 35.8% of the vote in Styria’s state election, marking an 18.3% surge since the last election.
This landslide win is the party’s best showing in the state, firmly establishing it as the top political player, leapfrogging both the ÖVP (Austrian People’s Party) and SPÖ (Social Democratic Party) outside Carinthia for the first time ever.
The ÖVP, under Governor Christopher Drexler, endured a crushing blow, sinking to 26.4%—a nearly 10% drop—amid voter frustration with ongoing federal negotiations. This dramatic fall from grace has wiped out the ÖVP-SPÖ coalition majority, breaking a political streak that has lasted since 1945.
The SPÖ, led by Anton Lang, didn’t fare much better, hitting a historic low of 20.8%, down 2.2%. With these staggering losses, the once-dominant red-black coalition is officially off the table in Styria’s political landscape.
Smaller parties saw mixed outcomes. NEOS edged up slightly, gaining 0.5% to reach 5.9%, thanks in part to their federal presence. Meanwhile, the Greens took a significant hit, with their share of the vote slashed in half to 6.3%. The KPÖ, typically strong in Graz, managed just 4.4%, a drop of 1.6%.
This triumph for the FPÖ aligns with national trends. In the recent National Council elections, the party also soared to first place in Styria, doubling its vote share. These results highlight a seismic shift in Austrian politics, with voters turning away from the long-standing dominance of the ÖVP and SPÖ in favor of the FPÖ’s platform.
Without a percentage threshold for entry into Styria’s state parliament, smaller parties are now waiting to see how the allocation of basic mandates will shake out. One thing is clear: Austria’s political scene is undergoing a dramatic transformation, and the FPÖ is leading the charge.
