1956 Austrian legislative election

Parliamentary elections were held in Austria on 13 May 1956. The result was a victory for the Austrian People's Party, which won 82 of the 165 seats in the National Council. Voter turnout was 96%. Although the ÖVP had come up one seat short of an absolute majority, ÖVP leader and Chancellor Julius Raab retained the grand coalition with the Socialists, with the SPÖ leader Adolf Schärf as Vice-Chancellor.

1956 Austrian legislative election

13 May 1956
165 seats in the National Council of Austria 83 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Leader Julius Raab Adolf Schärf Party ÖVP SPÖ Last election 41.26%, 74 seats 42.11%, 73 seats Seats won 82 74 Seat change 8 1 Popular vote 1,999,986 1,873,295 Percentage 45.96% 43.05% Swing 4.70pp 0.94pp   Third party Fourth party   Leader Anton Reinthaller Johann Koplenig Party FPÖ KPÖ Last election – 5.28%, 4 seats, Seats won 6 3 Seat change New 1 Popular vote 283,749 192,438 Percentage 6.52% 4.42% Swing New 0.86pp
Results of the election, showing seats won by constituency and nationwide. Constituencies are shaded according to the first-place party.
Chancellor before election Julius Raab ÖVP Elected Chancellor Julius Raab ÖVP

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Austrian People's Party	1,999,986	45.96	82	+8
	Socialist Party of Austria	1,873,295	43.05	74	+1
	Freedom Party of Austria	283,749	6.52	6	–8
	Communists and Left Socialists	192,438	4.42	3	–1
	Free Workers Movement of Austria	1,812	0.04	0	New
	Party of Reason	284	0.01	0	New
	Ergokratische Party	231	0.01	0	New
	Austrian Patriotic Party	83	0.00	0	0
	Austrian Middle Class Party	23	0.00	0	New
	Parliamentary Representatives of the People prevented from voting, Non-Voters and Invalid Voters	7	0.00	0	New
Total		4,351,908	100.00	165	0
Valid votes		4,351,908	98.29
Invalid/blank votes		75,803	1.71
Total votes		4,427,711	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		4,614,464	95.95
Source: Nohlen & Stöver