Executive branch:
chief of state: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992) was
elected for a six-year term by popular vote; election last held 24
May 1992 (next to be held 1998); results of second ballot - Thomas
KLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43%
head of government: Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June 1986)
was chosen by the president from the majority party in the National
Council; Vice Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (since 22 April 1995)
was chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
cabinet: Council of Ministers was chosen by the president on the
advice of the chancellor
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung) Federal Council (Bundesrat): consists of 63 members representing each of the provinces on the basis of population, but with each province having at least three representatives National Council (Nationalrat): elections last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held Fall 1999); results - SPOE 38.3%, OEVP 28.3%, FPOE 22.1%, Greens 4.6%, LF 5.3%, other 1.4%; seats - (183 total) SPOE 71, OEVP 53, FPOE 40, Greens 9, LF 10
Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for
civil and criminal cases; Administrative Court
(Verwaltungsgerichtshof) for bureaucratic cases; Constitutional
Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) for constitutional cases
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party of Austria
(SPOE), Franz VRANITZKY, chairman; Austrian People's Party (OEVP),
Wolfgang SCHUESSEL, chairman; Freedom Movement (F, formerly the
Freedom Party of Austria or FPOE), Joerg HAIDER, chairman; Communist
Party (KPOE), Walter SILBERMAYER, chairman; The Greens, Madeleine
PETROVIC; Liberal Forum (LF), Heide SCHMIDT
Other political or pressure groups: Federal Chamber of Commerce
and Industry; Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist);
three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party (OEVP)
representing business, labor, and farmers; OEVP-oriented League of
Austrian Industrialists; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief
lay organization, Catholic Action
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA,
EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIH, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU
(observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Helmut TUERK
chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700
FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Swanee G. HUNT
chancery: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [43] (1) 313-39
FAX: [43] (1) 310-0682
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
Economy ———-