title: 2008 Austrian legislative election issue questionnaires
text: # 2008 Austrian legislative election issue questionnaires
  
  Three different organisations sent questionnaires to the parties competing in the 2008 legislative elections in Austria, seeking answers to various policy questions; the questions and answers are set out in this article.
  
  ## Wahlkabine
  
  The internet platform wahlkabine.at (Wahlkabine means "voting booth"), which has offered a decision support for state elections, national elections and European Parliament elections in Austria since 2002, sent a questionnaire consisting of twenty-six questions on political positions to the SPÖ, the ÖVP, the Greens, the FPÖ, the BZÖ, the LIF, the FRITZ and the KPÖ; all parties except for the FRITZ replied with their answers (shown in the following table).
  
  | Question | SPÖ | ÖVP | GRÜNE | FPÖ | BZÖ | LIF | FRITZ | KPÖ |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1. Should wealth be taxed more in Austria for the fight against poverty? | ++ | – | +++ | –– | –– | +++ | Ø | +++ |
  | 2. Should fathers receive complete compensatory wage increases (Lohnausgleich) if they stay at home for one month following the birth of their child? | ++ | – | +++ | –– | –– | + | Ø | –– |
  | 3. Should delinquent people who do not have Austrian citizenship be deported irrespective of their prior length of stay? | –– | – | ––– | +++ | +++ | –– | Ø | ––– |
  | 4. Should the Austrian Armed Forces with their universal conscription be transformed into a professional army based on volunteers? | –– | –– | –– | –– | ++ | +++ | Ø | –– |
  | 5. Should university tuition fees once more be abolished? | +++ | –– | +++ | ++ | – | +++ | Ø | +++ |
  | 6. Should a general basic income be introduced in Austria? | –– | –– | +++ | ––– | –– | +++ | Ø | +++ |
  | 7. Should important decisions on the EU (such as the accession of Turkey to the European Union, the Reform Treaty, ...) be subject to a referendum in Austria, even if there is no referendum in the whole European Union? | +++ | + | ++ | +++ | +++ | ––– | Ø | +++ |
  | 8. Should a comprehensive school for teenagers aged 10 to 14 (Gesamtschule) be introduced in Austria? | +++ | –– | ++ | ––– | –– | +++ | Ø | +++ |
  | 9. Should the names of sex offenders be recorded in a register and released to the public in Austria? | –– | ++ | –– | +++ | +++ | –– | Ø | –– |
  | 10. Should Austria tighten the criteria for the humanitarian right to stay (such as health, family situation, education)? | –– | – | ––– | +++ | +++ | –– | Ø | ––– |
  | 11. Should freight traffic on Austria's streets be reduced through a higher lorry toll? | ++ | + | +++ | –– | – | + | Ø | +++ |
  | 12. Should art which is socially controversial be subsidised with government funds? | ++ | + | +++ | –– | + | +++ | Ø | ++ |
  | 13. Should the consumption of "soft drugs" (weiche Drogen) such as hashish and marijuana be prosecuted? | + | ++ | ––– | +++ | ++ | – | Ø | –– |
  | 14. Should the number of seats in the Austrian National Council (parliament) be reduced due to cost concerns? | – | – | – | ++ | +++ | – | Ø | – |
  | 15. Should people with higher incomes be obliged to contribute more to the Austrian health system (for instance through an increase of the Höchstbeitragsgrundlage? | +++ | –– | +++ | –– | ––– | +++ | Ø | ++ |
  | 16. Should Austria spend public funds to procure information about so-called "tax refugees"? | + | – | +++ | + | – | – | Ø | – |
  | 17. Should video surveillance of the public space (such as plazas, public buildings and transport etc.) expanded even more in Austria? | + | ++ | ––– | ++ | +++ | –– | Ø | –– |
  | 18. Should a general smoking ban be imposed in gastronomy (such as restaurants and cafés)? | ++ | –– | ++ | ––– | ––– | – | Ø | – |
  | 19. Should education camps for delinquent juveniles be established in Austria? | –– | – | ––– | + | – | –– | Ø | ––– |
  | 20. Should Austria spend more money on development assistance? | + | + | +++ | – | ––– | ++ | Ø | ++ |
  | 21. Should long-term unemployed be obliged to render charitable services? | –– | + | ––– | –– | ++ | –– | Ø | ––– |
  | 22. Should children born in Austria automatically receive the Austrian citizenship? | –– | ––– | +++ | ––– | ––– | – | Ø | +++ |
  | 23. Should the age of retirement be adapted automatically to the development of life expectancy to ensure the working of the pension system in the long run? | ––– | ++ | ––– | ––– | ––– | – | Ø | ––– |
  | 24. Should the possibility of termination of pregnancy through health insurance certificate (Krankenschein) be offered in Austria? | – | – | + | ––– | –– | ++ | Ø | +++ |
  | 25. Should homosexual couples be able to adopt children in Austria? | – | ––– | ++ | ––– | ––– | ++ | Ø | ++ |
  | 26. Should private transport be relieved through a reduction of the mineral oil tax? | –– | – | –– | +++ | +++ | – | Ø | ––– |
  | +++ strongly in favour ++ in favour + slightly in favour – slightly against –– against ––– strongly against Ø refused to participate |||||||||
  
  ## Politikkabine
  
  The internet platform politikkabine.at (Politikkabine means "politics booth") offered a similar questionnaire of twenty-six questions, to which nine of the lists contesting the election nationwide (all parties except Save Austria) replied.
  
  | Question | SPÖ | ÖVP | GRÜNE | FPÖ | BZÖ | LIF | FRITZ | KPÖ | RETTÖ | DC |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1. Should child care places be offered in all of Austria free of charge for children aged 1 to 3? | – | + | + | – | + | + | + | + | Ø | – |
  | 2. Should university tuition fees be abolished? | + | – | + | + | – | + | + | + | Ø | – |
  | 3. Should the comprehensive school (Gesamtschule/Neue Mittelschule) (consolidation of Gymnasium and Hauptschule up to the ninth school year) be implemented nationwide? | + | – | + | – | – | + | + | + | Ø | – |
  | 4. Should the age of retirement be adapted automatically to the rising life expectancy and increased? | – | + | – | – | – | – | – | – | Ø | + |
  | 5. Should the state compensate rising food prices through a one-time payment (inflation bonus)? | + | – | + | – | + | – | – | + | Ø | – |
  | 6. Should home care subsidies be increased yearly according to the rate of inflation? | – | – | + | + | + | + | + | + | Ø | + |
  | 7. Do you favour a consolidation of the regional public health insurance companies (Gebietskrankenkassen)? | – | + | + | + | + | + | – | – | Ø | – |
  | 8. Should children of immigrants without sufficient knowledge of the German language be taught in separate "foreigners' classes" ("Ausländerklassen")? | – | – | – | + | – | – | – | – | Ø | + |
  | 9. Should Austria regulate immigration through a Green Card for highly trained employees? | – | – | + | + | + | + | + | – | Ø | – |
  | 10. Should penalties be imposed on states which do not accommodate a certain number of asylum seekers as agreed between the federation and the states? | – | + | + | + | – | + | – | – | Ø | – |
  | 11. Should there be a public register of sex offenders? | – | + | – | + | + | – | – | – | Ø | – |
  | 12. Should there be a tax reform even if it results in new debts for the state? | – | – | + | + | + | – | + | – | Ø | – |
  | 13. Should VAT on food be reduced? | + | – | – | + | + | – | + | + | Ø | – |
  | 14. Should the maximum tax rate be increased? | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | + | Ø | – |
  | 15. Do you favour a referendum on a new or modified EU treaty? | + | – | + | + | + | – | + | + | Ø | + |
  | 16. Should the number of seats in the National Council be reduced? | – | – | – | + | + | – | – | – | Ø | – |
  | 17. Should the positions of interior minister and/or justice minister be staffed with experts independent from political parties? | – | – | – | – | + | – | – | – | Ø | – |
  | 18. Should speed limits and driving bans be imposed in areas afflicted by high fine particulate air pollution? | + | + | + | – | – | + | + | + | Ø | + |
  | 19. Should politics intervene regulatively in the price of sale of petrol and diesel? | + | + | – | + | + | – | + | + | Ø | – |
  | 20. Do you favour the option of termination of pregnancy through health insurance certificate (Krankenschein)? | – | – | + | – | – | + | + | + | Ø | – |
  | 21. Should homosexual couples be allowed to marry in a civil ceremony? | + | – | + | – | – | + | + | + | Ø | – |
  | 22. Do you favour positive discrimination (such as conscious preference for women or disabled people) in the job market to facilitate equal job opportunities? | + | + | + | – | – | + | + | + | Ø | – |
  | 23. Should there be a smoking ban in public venues? | + | – | + | – | – | – | + | – | Ø | + |
  | 24. Should the EU cease accession negotiations with Turkey? | – | – | – | + | + | – | + | – | Ø | + |
  | 25. Should Austria continue to take part with soldiers in EU missions? | + | + | + | + | – | + | + | – | Ø | + |
  | 26. Should Austria withdraw from the EU? | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Ø | – |
  | + in favour – against Ø refused to participate |||||||||||
  
  ## Wiener Zeitung
  
  The Wiener Zeitung had a similar service called Wahlmaschine ("election machine"); all parties replied with their answers to the thirty questions.
  
  | Question | SPÖ | ÖVP | GRÜNE | FPÖ | BZÖ | LIF | FRITZ | KPÖ | RETTÖ | DC |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1. Every party represented in the National Council is a potential coalition partner. | –– | ++ | –– | ++ | ++ | –– | o | –– | –– | ++ |
  | 2. There is a lack of sufficient measures against capitalism in Austria. | –– | –– | ++ | o | ++ | –– | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ |
  | 3. The economy in Austria is hindered by too much regulation. | –– | ++ | o | ++ | o | ++ | ++ | –– | ++ | ++ |
  | 4. A possible tax relief should come into force on 1 January 2009. | ++ | –– | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ |
  | 5. A capital gains tax should be introduced. | ++ | –– | ++ | –– | –– | ++ | ++ | ++ | –– | –– |
  | 6. Higher earners should profit from tax reform, as well. | –– | ++ | ++ | ++ | –– | ++ | ++ | –– | o | ++ |
  | 7. Federalism is too expensive in Austria. | –– | o | o | –– | o | ++ | –– | ++ | ++ | –– |
  | 8. The states of Austria should levy taxes for all their expenses by themselves. | –– | –– | o | –– | ++ | o | –– | –– | ++ | o |
  | 9. The rich do not pay enough taxes in Austria. | ++ | –– | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | o |
  | 10. An unconditional basic income for all should be introduced. | –– | –– | o | –– | –– | ++ | o | ++ | o | –– |
  | 11. Only those who have demonstrated their willingness to work should receive a basic income. | ++ | ++ | –– | –– | –– | –– | ++ | –– | ++ | –– |
  | 12. Homosexual couples should be able to marry at the civil registry office. | ++ | –– | ++ | –– | –– | ++ | o | ++ | –– | –– |
  | 13. There should be a widow's/widower's pension for homosexual couples, as well. | ++ | ++ | ++ | –– | –– | ++ | –– | ++ | –– | –– |
  | 14. Homosexual couples should be allowed to adopt children. | ++ | –– | ++ | –– | –– | ++ | –– | ++ | –– | –– |
  | 15. A constitutional law should provide for a binding referendum on the accession of Turkey to the European Union. | ++ | o | o | ++ | ++ | –– | ++ | –– | ++ | ++ |
  | 16. A constitutional law should provide for binding referendums before every new EU treaty. | ++ | –– | –– | ++ | ++ | –– | o | ++ | ++ | ++ |
  | 17. Altogether Austria profits from the fact that we joined the EU. | ++ | ++ | ++ | –– | –– | ++ | ++ | –– | –– | o |
  | 18. Instead of the motorway permit sticker a kilometre-dependent car toll should be introduced. | –– | –– | ++ | –– | –– | ++ | ++ | ++ | o | ++ |
  | 19. Nonsmoker protection should be strengthened even more. | ++ | o | ++ | o | –– | o | ++ | –– | –– | ++ |
  | 20. People who consciously live unhealthfully should contribute more to the financing of the healthcare system. | –– | o | –– | –– | –– | ++ | –– | –– | ++ | ++ |
  | 21. Kindergarten attendance should be compulsory after the fifth year of life. | ++ | ++ | ++ | –– | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | –– |
  | 22. The federation, the states, municipalities, chambers and the ORF should commit themselves to an absolute stop to increases of fees for two years. | –– | o | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | o |
  | 23. When prices rise to unprecedented levels, that state should intervene. | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | –– | ++ | ++ | o | –– |
  | 24. University tuition fees have to be abolished. | ++ | –– | ++ | ++ | –– | ++ | ++ | ++ | o | –– |
  | 25. The comprehensive school for teenagers aged 10 to 14 (Gesamtschule) should be introduced nationwide and compulsorily. | ++ | –– | ++ | –– | –– | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | –– |
  | 26. Under-performing civil servants should not be protected from being sacked. | –– | –– | o | ++ | ++ | ++ | –– | –– | –– | o |
  | 27. Foreigners who have been handed unconditional sentences should be deported immediately. | –– | o | –– | ++ | ++ | –– | ++ | –– | ++ | o |
  | 28. People who live here legally should be allowed to work, as well. | ++ | o | ++ | –– | –– | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | o |
  | 29. Asylum seekers should have to wait in camps for the decisions on their asylum requests. | –– | –– | –– | ++ | ++ | –– | o | –– | –– | o |
  | 30. As the life expectancy grows, so should the age of retirement be postponed. | –– | o | –– | –– | –– | ++ | –– | –– | o | ++ |
  | ++ in favour + rather in favour o neutral – rather against –– against |||||||||||
  