The Austrian People's Party (OVP) is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Austria that was founded on 17 April 1945 as the successor to the right-wing populist Christian Social Party of Austria. The party has historically defined itself as Catholic and anti-socialist, and it initially defined itself as a centrist party. The OVP supported a social market economy, thereby supporting both capitalism and a welfare state; its shared economic views with the Social Democratic Party of Austria led to electoral alliances between the two parties. The OVP was more conservative than the SPO, but it was less right-wing than the fascist Freedom Party of Austria. During the 2017 elections, the OVP's views were shifted to the right by OVP leader Sebastian Kurz, who adopted anti-immigration views in order to draw away support from the rival FPO party. His "New People's Party" movement would win the election to make him Europe's youngest leader.
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