VOTING IN ELECTION SHOWING DR. KLAUS AND HIS WIFE VOTING; DR. PITTERMANN, LEADER OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY VOTING: AND HERR FRANZ OLAH AND HIS WIFE VOTING. HERR OLAH IS THE LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE PARTY.




Initials AA/V/WH/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: CHANCELLOR JOSEF KLAUS' CONSERVATIVE PEOPLE'S PARTY WON AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY IN AUSTRIA'S GENERAL ELECTIONS TONIGHT (SUNDAY), CRUSHING A JOINT LEFTWING ATTACK BY THE SOCIALIST AND COMMUNIST PARTIES. DR. KLAUS DECLARED ON TELEVISION AFTERWARDS THAT A BIG THREAT HAD BEEN AVOIDED AS THE AUSTRIAN PEOPLE HAD MADE A CLEAR DECISION AGAINST THE SOCIALIST AND COMMUNIST "PEOPLE'S FRONT."
DR. KLAUS' PARTY GAINED FOUR MORE SEATS TO WIN 85 OF THE 165 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SEATS. THE SOCIALISTS WON 74 AND THE ONLY OTHER PARTY TO GAIN SEATS, THE RIGHTWING FREEDOM PARTY, TOOK SIX.

FOR TWENTY YEARS, AUSTRIA HAS BEEN RULED BY A COALITION OF THE PEOPLE'S PARTY AND THE SOCIALISTS. BOTH COALITION PARTNERS WANTED A FIRM MAJORITY IN THIS ELECTION IN A BIG TO GAIN THE POST OF CHANCELLOR.

THE PEOPLE'S PARTY IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ITS COALITION WITH THE SOCIALISTS - BUT WILL PROBABLY DEMAND GREATER REPRESENTATION IN THE NEW GOVERNMENT. THE FINAL DECISION SEEMS TO LIE WITH THE SOCIALISTS WHO MUST NOW ENTER A COALITION WITH THE VICTORS OR GO INTO REAL OPPOSITION.

THE TOTAL POLL IN THE ELECTION WAS ABOUT 93 PER CENT. THERE WAS ONE NEW PARTY, THE DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE LED BY FRANZ OLAH, A FORMER INTERIOR MINISTER EXPELLED FROM THE SOCIALIST PARTY TWO YEARS AGO. BUT IT FAILED TO WIN A SEAT.