the övp is the successor of the christian social party, a staunchly conservative movement founded in 1893 by karl lueger, mayor of vienna and highly controversial right-wing populist. most of the members of the party during its founding belonged to the former fatherland front, which was led by chancellor engelbert dollfuss, also a member of the christian social party before the anschluss. while still sometimes honored by övp members for resisting adolf hitler, the regime built by dollfuss was authoritarian in nature and has been dubbed as austrofascism. in its present form, the övp was established immediately after the restoration of austria's independence in 1945 and it has been represented in both the federal assembly ever since. in terms of federal assembly seats, the övp has consistently been the strongest or second-strongest party and as such it has led or at least been a partner in most austria's federal cabinets.