page_title: Styria
section_title: Politics
hierarchical_section_title: Styria / Politics
context_page_description: Styria is a state in the southeast of Austria. With an area of 16,401 km², Styria is the second largest state of Austria, after Lower Austria. Styria is bordered to the south by Slovenia, and by the Austrian states of Carinthia, Salzburg, Upper Austria, Lower Austria, and Burgenland. The state capital is Graz.
context_section_description: The state had been a stronghold of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) since 1945. Graz however is more left leaning than the more rural parts of the province, with strong representation of the Green Party in local politics and elections, and a less-than-marginal presence of the far left Communist Party (KPÖ).
  The governor (Austrian political term: Landeshauptmann) has usually been a member of the ÖVP.
caption: An enshrined crucifix amidst cornfields near Mureck in rural Styria, attesting to enduring Catholic faith
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