Meanwhile, the nationalist Freedom Party and its anti-Semitic leader, Jorg Haider, continued to gain political influence. The Republic of Austria was established in 1918 after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and was reborn in 1945, seven years after its annexation by Nazi Germany. Occupation by the Western allies and the Soviet Union ended in 1955 under the Austrian State Treaty, which guaranteed Austrian neutrality and restored national sovereignty. Political Rights and Civil Liberties Austrians can change their government democratically. The country s provinces possess considerable latitude in local administration and can check federal power by electing members of the upper house of parliament.
Voting is compulsory in some provinces.
The independent judiciary is headed by a Supreme Court and includes both constitutional and administrative courts. A 1955 treaty prohibits Nazis from exercising freedom of assembly or association. Nazi organizations are illegal, but Nazis are welcomed in the Freedom Party. In 1992, public denial of the Holocaust and justification of approval of Nazi crimes against humanity were outlawed. In general, Austrian police enforce these anti-Nazi statutes more enthusiastically when extremists attract international attention.