After state elections

Less funding for the People’s Party and the Greens

Markus Wallner's People's Party also has to make do with less money. It is likely to be around 165,000 euros per year.

(Bild: Mathis Fotografie/Krone KREATIV)

After last Sunday's election, the ÖVP and the Greens will not only have to accept a severe loss of seats - they will also receive significantly less party funding over the next five years.

The FPÖ will also see a monetary increase in line with the election result: after every provincial election, party funding is also recalculated. And as this is linked to the share of votes, the Freedom Party will also receive more money following its significant gain.

A total of around 3.42 million euros in party funding has been earmarked for all five state parliamentary parties for 2024. How much it will be in 2025 will not be known until mid-December when the budget is approved.

According to the law, political parties and campaigners who took part in the most recent state parliamentary elections and are represented in the state parliament by at least one member of parliament are entitled to these funds. Parties that did not make it into parliament are therefore left empty-handed.

A total of around 1.37 million euros in party funding was budgeted for the ÖVP in 2024. In future, the Black Party will receive a good 165,000 euros less per year due to the loss of votes. The Greens are also among the losers: in 2024, they had a budget of EUR 686,000 and will have to make do with around EUR 190,000 less per year.

Base amount of 156,000 euros
If a party has three or more MPs in parliament, it receives an annual basic contribution, which is currently a good 156,000 euros. Club status is therefore very important for the parties financially, especially as it also entitles them to rooms in the Landhaus. The rest of the party funding budget, around 2.64 million euros, is divided up according to the ratio of votes.

For the Freedom Party, on the other hand, around 548,000 euros in funding was calculated this year. From 2025, they will receive around 373,000 euros more per year. The SPÖ will receive a good 20,000 euros less instead of 424,000 euros. Around 398,000 euros were calculated for the NEOS in 2024, which will remain roughly the same.

Although the voters did not vote on the amount of funding, they did vote on the distribution.

(Bild: Mathis Fotografie)

If the parties have violated provisions of the Political Parties Funding Act during the election campaign with regard to election advertising periods, campaign cost ceilings or reporting obligations, there is a threat of repayment of up to ten percent of the funding.

In addition, state parliament parties receive parliamentary group funding, i.e. funds for the operation of a state parliament club. According to the law, these funds may be used "exclusively for the fulfillment of parliamentary tasks". As a rule, this amounts to between 23,000 and 33,000 euros per month.