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NEOS ("Neues Osterreich")

In October 2012 Matthias Strolz, a Vorarlberger who lived in Vienna, announced plans to take part in the parliamentary elections with his new party the "Neos" ("Neues Osterreich"). Strolz reportedly already had the required 350 other party members needed to found his party .- that described itself as liberal and advocates independent responsibility and sustainablity in its policies. They want to be included in polls for the parliamentary elections by 2013.

The Green party that for too long has been seen as uncritical of the social Democrats with many local coalitions in operation has also suffered as a result losing ground against the new liberal NEOS with the two parties battling it out for fourth and fifth place. The Green party gained 11.5 per cent of the September 2013 vote, a 1 per cent increase, newcomers NEOS gained 4.8 per cent of the vote

The liberal NEOS party made a surprisingly successful rush to power in 2013, advertising fairness and a strong anti-corruption path. Since the elections for the new Parliament on 29 September 2013, there are 2 completely new political parties in Austria`s parliament. One of them is the „Team Stronach“ and the other, most surprising party, are the „NEOS“ which grew out of the „Liberals“ and people from other political parties. Founded one year ago, no one expected that the „NEOS“ and „Team Stronach“ would enter the Parliament already in this election.

Austrian officials announced in APril 2-14 they were coordinating with Ukraine's public prosecutors over the investigation of former Ukrainian government officials accused of money-laundering and sanctions violations. Responding to a question asked by the liberal NEOS party in parliament, the Justice Ministry in Austria said it had asked the Ukrainian public prosecutor to send a letter substantiating its suspicions.

The liberal NEOS, in their first European election in May 2014, gained around 8% of the votes, which will likely give them one seat at the European Parliament.