After the fall of the Socialist Bloc Communist Party of Austria

transparency of ekh-bleibt-aktion (ernst-kirchweger-house-remains action)

because of financial problems, party had sell so-called ernst-kirchweger-haus (ekh), occupied so-called autonome (autonomous) activists since 1990. sale led substantial criticism leftists within , outside austria, being condemned capitalistic . critics accused kpÖ of not having exhausted possibilities avoid sale. accusation private buyer right-wing extremist could, however, not substantiated.

in january 2005 there several acts of vandalism against cars , private dwellings of kpÖ functionaries house of kpÖ chairman. according media reports perpetrators outed through graffiti ekh sympathisers. kpÖ defended arguing had no possible financial means keep house. in 2003 party tried convince city of vienna buy building save privatisation; however, city authorities did not respond.

internal party conflict

beginning in 1994 conflict between party leadership revolving around chairman walter baier , different internal oppositional groups, had gathered around newspaper nvs (neue volksstimme, english: new voice of people) , internet platform kominform. internal party critics accused walter baier of revisionism , betrayal of marxism; in turn accused them of stalinist tendencies.

this conflict escalated in 2004, when @ party convention decided enter party of european left. in elections european parliament kpÖ ran in largely self-financed alliance ( wahlbündnis links ) leo gabriel leading candidate. in interview magazine profil, spoke out against socialism, saying want europe of solidarity, not socialist europe , sparked furious criticism internal party opposition. further point of contention opposition party, in course of entry european left party, had drop previous demand of austrian withdrawal european union. many party organisations therefore boycotted election campaign. election result of 0.77% (20,497 votes) disappointing , meant drop of 1,466 votes compared election results of 1999.

the pressure on party leadership convene party congress rose , consequence leadership, consisted of walter baier , 2 further members, called 33rd party congress of kpÖ december 11 , december 12, 2004 delegation party congress in linz-ebelsberg. summoning leadership ignored resolution of 32nd party congress (which held all-members party congress, not delegates), stated following 33rd party congress again held all-member party congress, somewhere outside vienna. since party congress is, according party statute, highest committee of kpÖ, opposition saw breach of statute , called upon arbitration commission of party, internal authority in such cases. arbitration commission decided, however, no formal breach of statute recognisable since, according statute, party congress cannot decide on form of future convening party congress. members of kpÖ branch in ottakring (ottakring traditional low income worker’s district in vienna) tried convene all-members party congress of own, justifying actions on statute of party. attempt called off due threats of legal action baier. delegates party congress convened , took place on december 4 , december 5, 2004 76 delegates meeting in ebelsberg. party congress boycotted internal party opposition kpÖ regional branch in tyrol, graz, , styria. agenda of 33rd party congress rejection of european constitution , european union services guideline, defence of public property privatisation, how celebrate austrian jubilee year 2005 (60 years since end of world war ii, 50 years of independence second republic, 10 years member of european union).

walter baier re-elected without opposition 89.4% of votes. among other things, party statute changed. because of internal conflict, several members of opposition expelled party. critics accused leadership of undemocratic procedures, , withdrew party voluntarily. relationship communist youth of austria - young left (kjÖ) tense, because of attempts made leadership develop new youth organisation.

in march 2006 walter baier resigned presidency of party personal , political reasons. replaced mirko messner, carinthian slovene , longtime party-activist, , melina klaus later month.