Seniorenpolitik

Senior Citizens Policy, of growing importance in Austria due to increasing life expectancy and difficulties in providing funds for protection and assistance in old-age. However, the senior citizens´ associations of the major Austrian parties have only limited political influence. The "Verband der österreichischen Rentner und Pensionisten" (Association of Austrian Senior Citizens) of the Social Democrats (SPÖ) counted 307,000 members in 1990; the "Österreichischer Seniorenbund" (Austrian Organization of Senior Citizens) of the Austrian People´s Party (ÖVP) had 233,000 members in 1989. A successful senior citizens´ party has not yet been established in Austria.