Austria

National Council

Political system
Presidential-Parliamentary
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Parliamentary mandate

Start and end of mandate

Start of the parliamentary mandate for newly elected members
At the first sitting of the chamber
Start of the parliamentary mandate for appointed members
Not applicable
End of the parliamentary mandate
When the new chamber meets for the first time

Speaker

Mode of designation of the Speaker
The Speaker is elected from among the members of parliament/chamber
Authority that designates the Speaker when the Speaker is designated from outside parliament.
Not applicable
Rank of the Speaker in the hierarchy of the State
Second
Speaker becomes interim Head of State in the event of the latter’s death or incapacity
Yes
Speaker's mandate continues between legislatures
Yes

Speaker terms

The term of the Speaker is different from the term of the house
No
Speaker's term
5 Years
Fixed election date for the Speaker, if any
No information available

Immunity and code of conduct

Parliament’s authorization is required for the detention or prosecution of members
Yes, except for flagrant delicto

Notes: Members may only be prosecuted for punishable offences which are in no way connected with their political activities. The prosecuting authority shall, upon demand of the member concerned or of one-third of the members of the standing committee having jurisdiction over such matters, seek a decision of the National Council on whether or not any such connection exists between the alleged offense and the member’s political activities. If the National Council determines that there is a connection between the alleged offence and the member's political activity, it shall at the same time decide on whether or not it approves the prosecution of the member in question.

Sources: Federal Constitutional Law, art. 57(2)(5)

There is a Code of conduct for members
Yes

Salaries and allowances

Members are paid salaries by parliament
Click for historical data
Basic salary, per year
138,216 EUR
(2023)
Basic salary, per year in PPP
194,670
(2023)
Basic allowances
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Basic allowance in PPP
7,371
Names of the basic allowances

There are no real allowances, only remunerations. The law concerning these remunerations can be found on the parliamentary website.

Members pay income tax on salaries
Yes
Members pay income tax on allowances
No
Members can have remunerated employment outside parliament
Yes
Members are required to declare income from other employment to parliament
Yes
Salary of the Speaker
262,053 EUR
Salary of the Speaker in PPP
349,404
The parliamentary salary is determined in reference to another salary scale
Yes
Reference scale used for parliamentary salaries
Civil service salary scale

Notes: Remunerations are limited by law depending on the civil service salary scale.

Information on salaries and allowances on the parliamentary website

Federal Act on the Emoluments of Persons in Highest Federal Offices of Members of the National Council and of the Federal Council (Federal Emoluments Act) along with public announcements by the President of the Austrian Court of Audit.

Year data was last reported

2020

Facilities, services and allowances for constituency work
Personal staff to work directly for the parliamentarian
No
Office at parliament
Yes
Constituency office
No
Housing
No
Other cash or in-kind allowances for constituency work
Yes

Notes:

Members of the Nationalrat can be reimbursed for their personal staff under specific legal conditions up to the annual amount of € 67,466.80 per member.

Actual parliamentary expenses may also be reimbursed which may include expenses for the constituency office, travel costs, office equipment, expenses for accommodation etc. up to 578.30 € per month (12 times a year), depending on the travel time between their hometown and parliament.

Additional salaries and allowances for leadership positions
Additional salaries and allowances provided for leadership positions
Yes

Notes:

Speaker - EUR 262,053
First/Second Deputy Speaker - EUR 212,138
Head of parliamentary groups - EUR 212,138

List of salaries and allowances for leadership positions
Salary Allowances
Speaker Yes
No
Committee Chair No
No

Participation in the government

Members of the government must also be members of parliament
Other

Notes: Members of the Federal Government can be members of the Federal Council, but this is unusual. Some Provinces state in their constitution that Members of the Province’s Government cannot be a member of parliament.

Number of members of the parliament/chamber who are also members of the government
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Percentage of members of parliament/chamber who are also members of the government
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Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No