Geographic political divides in countries

[Tender Branson]

In Austria, the west (Vorarlberg, Tirol, Salzburg, Upper Austria) is generally conseravtive, as is Lower Austria and Styria. For Salzburg this was the case until 2004, when the Social Dems won the governorship for the first time since WW2 ended. It was also the case in Styria when the SD won the election for the first time since 1945. Vorarlberg, Tirol, Upper Austria and Lower Austria always had Conservative Governors since WW2. Vienna has always been Social Democrat, Burgenland since 1964. Carinthia was long SD until 1989 when the FPÖ-candidate Jörg Haider became governor. He had to resign 2 years later after comments about the Nazi-Era. Then 8 years of conservative rule followed and then Jörg Haider again became Governor there. So, it´s a very mixed state. But in general you can say, North and Western Austria is conservative, while the South-East is more Social Democrat.