In 1964 political life in Burgenland changed. Socialists were winners of the regional elections - it was the first time in post-war Austria, that the leading party could not keep majority in a regional parliament. In fact, it was a very close result: more than 79. 000 people (48,7%) were voting for the social-democrats, only 78.000 (47,3%) for the people’s party.

Hans Bögl from Neufeld became the first socialist governor of Burgenland, but retired just two years later. He was succeeded in office by Theodor Kery, governor of Burgenland from 1966 - 1987. In 1968 socialists obtained even absolute majority.

In those days for the very first time a Burgenländer became Austrian Federal Minister: Franz Soronics (People’s Party) from Eisenstadt, as Minister for Internal Affairs was seriously involved and rather under pressure, when in October 1968 the Soviet Army suppressed the so-called „Prager Frühling“ („Spring of Prague“) in Czechoslovakia. When Russian tanks approached the Austrian border, our national army had to react and to reinforce the frontier guard.
In the sixties and early seventies Burgenland began to get a more modern face. The country, that in earlier days had been a country of small farmers, changed enormously now. Schools, cultural centres and community buildings were built all over Burgenland; the main villages like Eisenstadt, Oberwart, Mattersburg or Neusiedl grew, the smaller ones like Güssing, Oberpullendorf, and Jennersdorf were given town charter.

Though Burgenland caught up economically, Croatian und Hungarian minority lost a lot of their identity. It was unusual at that time to keep up the old traditions in the villages. People tried to forget everything, that reminded them of the earlier, poorer days. Croatian and Hungarian were rarely taught in schools; today we have a certain renaissance of these two languages.

Socialists still kept their absolute majority. Besides them and the main opponent, the People’s Party, there were only the Freedom-Party, which about 3 or 4 % were voting for. So they were too small to get seats in the Burgenland parliament.

In 1983 the social-democrat Dr. Fred Sinowatz from Neufeld became Federal Chancellor of Austria. He was in coalition with the Freedom-Party, but he retired, when the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Dr. Kurt Waldheim was elected Federal President of Austria 1986. 

In 1987, Freedom-Party was re-elected into the Burgenland parliament. Hans Sipötz (social-democrat) from Pamhagen became governor for four years.

From 1991 - 2000, the socialist-democrats with governor Karl Stix (Hornstein) and the People’s Party with Dr. Franz Sauerzopf (Mattersburg) and Gerhard Jellasitz (Purbach) were leading our country into modern times. When Austria became member of the European Union in 1995, Burgenland was considered „Ziel-1-Gebiet“ - an area within the European Union, financially supported by all member states, due to delays in economic development.

Today, there is rather no difference between Burgenland and other Austrian countries anymore. In cultural matters, Burgenland is well-known because of the summer festivals in St. Margarethen (operas), Mörbisch (operettas), Eisenstadt (Haydn-festival in September) and the summer plays in Kobersdorf, Güssing and Parndorf.

Unfortunately, many thousands of Burgenländers are still forced to commute to the big cities. They use to live in Vienna or Graz five days a week and return into Burgenland to their families just for the weekend. But maybe things get better some day.
People in Burgenland have seen a lot and went through hard times in the last 80 years, before their home country has developed into what it is today. Let’s hope for a happy future in peace.

Mag. Walter Dujmovits, jun.