At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Austria

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Thomas KLESTIL
• Head of Government: Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL
• Assembly: Austria has a bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung) consisting of the Federal Council (Bundesrat) with 62 seats and the National Council (Nationalrat) with 183 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by direct popular vote to serve a 6-year term.
• In the Federal Council (Bundesrat) 62 members are elected by indirect vote to serve 5-year terms*. In the National Council (Nationalrat) 183 members are elected by direct popular vote to serve 4-year terms.

* Members are elected by indirect vote by provincial assemblies in proportion to party representation.

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

• Heinz FISCHER
  • ​Party: Austrian Social Democratic Party
• Benita FERRERO-WALDNER
  • ​Party: Austrian People's Party/Österreichische Völkspartei

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 8,171,966 (2004)
• Registered voters: 6,030,982 (2004)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 4,201,065 (2002)

·         Is Austria a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Austria ratified CEDAW: Yes (31 March 1982)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 62 (National Council) (as of 2002 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 23 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Australia a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Australia ratified CRPD: Yes (26 Septmember 2008)

·         Population with a disability: 1,225,794 (est.)