At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Austria

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Thomas KLESTIL
• Head of Government: Chancellor Viktor KLIMA
• Assembly: Austria has a bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung) consisting of the Federal Council (Bundesrat) with 64 seats and the National Council (Nationalrat) with 183 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by simple majority vote to serve a 6-year term.

• In the Federal Council (Bundesrat) 64 members are elected by indirect vote*. In the National Council (Nationalrat) 183 members are elected by direct popular vote to serve 4-year terms.

* Members represent each of the provinces on the basis of population, but with each province having at least three representatives; members serve a 4- or 6-year term.

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

• Thomas KLESTIL
  • Party: Independent Candidate
• Gertraud KNOLL
  • Party: Independent Candidate
• Heide SCHMIDT
  • Party: Liberal Party
• Richard LUGNER
  • Party: Independent Candidate
• Karl NOWAK
  • Party: Independent Candidate

Last Presidential election:

• The last presidential election was held on May 24, 1992. In the last election, Thomas KLESTIL received 57% of the vote and thus defeated Rudolf STREICHER, his closest competitor with 43% of the vote.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 8,132,505 (July 1997 )
• Registered Voters: 5,848,584 ( 1998 )

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 4,111,943 (1998)

·         Is Austria a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Austria ratified CEDAW: Yes (31 March 1982)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 49 (National Council) (as of 1995 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 23 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Australia a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Australia ratified CRPD: Yes (26 Septmember 2008)

·         Population with a disability: 1,219,875 (est.)