Parliamentary elections were held in Austria on 9 October 1949. About 500,000 registered Nazis, who were not allowed to vote in 1945, regained their voting rights. A newly created party, the Electoral Party of Independents (WdU) (a predecessor of the Freedom Party of Austria) specifically targeted this group of voters and immediately won a large share of votes.^[1] The Austrian People's Party remained strongest party, although losing their absolute majority of seats. Leopold Figl stayed as Chancellor, leading a coalition with the Socialist Party of Austria as junior partner.^[2]

Quick Facts 165 seats in the National Council of Austria 83 seats needed for a majority, First party ...

1949 Austrian legislative election

← 1945 9 October 1949 1953 →
165 seats in the National Council of Austria 83 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Leader Leopold Figl Adolf Schärf Party ÖVP SPÖ Last election 49.80%, 85 seats 44.60%, 76 seats Seats won 77 67 Seat change 8 9 Popular vote 1,846,581 1,623,524 Percentage 44.03% 38.71% Swing 5.77pp 5.91pp   Third party Fourth party   Leader Herbert Kraus Johann Koplenig Party VdU KPÖ Last election – 5.42%, 4 seats Seats won 16 5 Seat change New 1 Popular vote 489,273 213,066 Percentage 11.67% 5.08% Swing New 0.34pp
Results of the election, showing seats won by constituency and nationwide. Constituencies are shaded according to the first-place party.
Chancellor before election Leopold Figl ÖVP Elected Chancellor Leopold Figl ÖVP

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