Alliance for the Future of Austria
When, in April 2005, Haider split from the FPÖ and formed the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ), Gastinger eventually became a member of the newly formed party. During the election campaign leading up to the parliamentary elections to be held on 1 October 2006, she was "Spitzenkandidatin" (top of the list) of Styria for the BZÖ. However, on 25 September, only six days before the election, she announced her defection from the BZÖ.