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Country Name

Conventional long form: Republic of Austria

Conventional short form: Austria

Local long form: Republik Oesterreich

Local short form: Oesterreich

Administrative Divisions

9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria), Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria), Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)

Independence

976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed); 12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed)

National Holiday

National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the passage of the law on permanent neutrality

Constitution

1920; revised 1929; reinstated 1 May 1945; note - during the period 1 May 1934-1 May 1945 there was a fascist (corporative) constitution in place

Legal System

civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

International Law Organization Participation

Citizenship

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal; note - reduced from 18 years of age in 2007

Executive Branch

Chief of state: President Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) (since 8 July 2004)

Head of government: Chancellor Werner FAYMANN (SPOe) (since 2 December 2008); Vice Chancellor Josef PROELL (OeVP) (since 2 December 2008)

Cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor

Elections: president elected by direct popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); presidential election last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2010); chancellor formally chosen by the president but determined by the coalition parties forming a parliamentary majority; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor

Election results: Heinz FISCHER elected president; percent of vote - Heinz FISCHER 52.4%, Benita FERRERO-WALDNER 47.6%

Note: government coalition - SPOe and OeVP

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 seats; members chosen by state parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 members in proportion to its population; members serve five- or six-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: National Council - last held 28 September 2008 (next to be held by September 2013) election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SPOe 29.3%, OeVP 26%, FPOe 17.5%, BZOe 10.7%, Greens 10.4%, other 6.1%; seats by party - SPOe 57, OeVP 51, FPOe 34, BZOe 21, Greens 20

Judicial Branch

Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof

Political Parties and Leaders

Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Josef BUCHER]; Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Josef PROELL]; Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]; Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Werner FAYMANN]; The Greens [Eva GLAWISCHNIG]

Political Pressure Groups and Leaders

Austrian Trade Union Federation or OeGB (nominally independent but primarily Social Democratic); Federal Economic Chamber; OeVP-oriented Association of Austrian Industrialists or IV; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action other: three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, farmers, and other nongovernment organizations in the areas of environment and human rights

Flag Description

Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red; the flag design is certainly one of the oldest - if not the oldest - national banners in the world; according to tradition, following a fierce battle in the Third Crusade, Duke Leopold V of Austria's white tunic became completely blood-spattered; upon removal of his wide belt or sash, a white band was revealed; the red-white-red color combination was subsequently adopted as his banner

National Anthem

Year	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Government Type

Federal republic

Capital

Name
Vienna
Geographic Coordinates
48 12 N, 16 22 E
Time Difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Daylight Saving Time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Chief Of Mission
Ambassador Christian PROSL
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, New York

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Chief Of Mission
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Scott F. KILNER
Embassy
Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna
Mailing Address
use embassy street address
Telephone
[43] (1) 31339-0
FAX
[43] (1) 3100682

International Organization Participation

ACCT (observer)
ADB (nonregional member)
AfDB (nonregional member)
Australia Group
BIS
BSEC (observer)
CE
CEI
CERN
EAPC
EBRD
EIB
EMU
ESA
EU
FAO
G-9
IADB
IAEA
IBRD
ICAO
ICC
ICCt
ICRM
IDA
IEA
IFAD
IFC
IFRCS
ILO
IMF
IMO
Interpol
IOC
IOM
IPU
ISO
ITSO

ITU
ITUC
MIGA
MINURSO
NAM (guest)
NEA
NSG
OAS (observer)
OECD
OIF (observer)
OPCW
OSCE
Paris Club
PCA
PFP
Schengen Convention
SECI (observer)
UN
UNCTAD
UNDOF
UNESCO
UNFICYP
UNHCR
UNIDO
UNOMIG
UNTSO
UNWTO
UPU
WCL
WCO
WEU (observer)
WFTU
WHO
WIPO
WMO
WTO
ZC

Austria