Erstellt am: 15. 10. 2012 - 14:03 Uhr

What "Klub" status would mean for Team Stronach

Reality Check: Team Stronach, Faymann's falling popularity, universities debate, Philippines, rehabilitating terrorists

It's a curiosity of the Austrian electoral system, or it seems curious to those from other systems, that voters elect a party, not individual politicians. Of course, in many cases, it doesn't make much difference. In Britain, where individual politicians are elected, the vast majority of people vote according to party anyway, and have no idea who their local MP is.

However, the Austrian system does allow for one apparent anomaly. A member of parliament can change parties, or even join a new movement, without having to go to the people.

This has happened twice in the last 20 years. In the 90s, the Liberal Forum was established when 5 members of parliament broke away from Jörg Haider's FPÖ, because they felt it had gone too far to the right.

A little over a decade later, the FPÖ split again. This time it was Haider himself who left, and founded the BZÖ. This, to the outsider, was even more remarkable because the unelected BZÖ not only took a place in the parliament, it also took over the FPÖ's position as coalition partner in the government.

Perhaps, then, it should not come as any surprise that Frank Stronach's "Team Stronach" seems poised to win "Klub" status in the parliament without ever having fought an election.

There is definitely an arguement that this is not a very democratic process but as political analyst, Melanie Sully, explains, it all depends on how you view the politician. Are they supposed to represent a party, or their own views and moral judgment? Maybe the freedom to follow your own judgment as a politician is more democratic, but whether it leads to consistent, coherent government remains to be seen.

Faymann's plunging popularity

Werner Faymann has been re-elected as the leader of the SPÖ, but with lowest level of support in the history of the party. Wolfgang Moitzi, chairman of the Youth SPÖ, explains why Faymann is losing his appeal.

The future for Austria's universities

No fees and free access - it sounds good but is the university ideal really possible? Chris Cummins gets opinions from both sides of the argument.

Peace plan for the Philippines

At last peace seems a real possibility in the long running internal conflict in the Philippines. Veronica Pedrosa reports on the latest breakthrough and what it will mean for the Philippines in the future.

Rehabilitating terrorists

A prison programme in Saudi Arabia says it can rehabilitate terrorists to become responsible members of society, but Dr. John Horgan, Director of the International Center for the Study of Terrorism at Pennsylvania State University is not convinced.

FM4 Reality Check

Monday to Friday from 12.00 to 14.00, and after the show via Podcast or fm4.orf.at/realitycheck.