Austria - Domestic policy

Schüssel's administration developed a safeguard against the FPÖ in the form of a negotiated treaty. He stated, "We have a declaration where everything is enshrined, 'a yes' to human rights, 'a yes' to Europe, 'a yes' to guarantees for our minorities."

In the general election held 24 November 2002, the FPÖ received only 10% of the vote, a far cry from the 27% that it got in the 1999 election. Schüssel's party received 42% of the vote. Without a majority though, and with the FPÖ's loss of popularity, the ÖVP now has the option of forming a new coalition with a different party or ruling as a minority government.