VIENNA - Communists have scored major election gains in Austria's second-largest city, almost doubling their share of the vote to take second place.The Communist party showing of 20.8 per cent in Graz is nearly 9 percentage points better than its last finish four years ago. Only the centrist People's Party did better, with just over 33 per cent.
Graz is the only Austrian city where Communists traditionally clear the 5-per cent hurdle needed to get city hall seats. But they seldom achieve double-digit support.
Political analysts said Monday the Communist surge in weekend elections is due in part to voter disillusionment with traditional parties and the perception that corruption is rife among their ranks.
Graz is about 200 kilometres (120 miles) southwest of Vienna and has a population of nearly 300,000.
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