| Country: | Austria |
| Flag Year: | state |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Previous Election: | 1966 Austrian legislative election |
| Previous Year: | 1966 |
| Next Election: | 1971 Austrian legislative election |
| Next Year: | 1971 |
| Seats For Election: | 165 seats in the National Council of Austria |
| Majority Seats: | 83 |
| Election Date: | 1 March 1970 |
| Image1: | Kreisky-Koechler-Vienna-1980 Crop.jpg |
| Leader1: | Bruno Kreisky |
| Party1: | Social Democratic Party of Austria |
| Last Election1: | 42.56%, 74 seats |
| Seats1: | 81 |
| Seat Change1: | 7 |
| Popular Vote1: | 2,221,981 |
| Percentage1: | 48.42% |
| Swing1: | 5.86pp |
| Leader2: | Josef Klaus |
| Party2: | Austrian People's Party |
| Last Election2: | 48.35%, 85 seats |
| Seats2: | 78 |
| Seat Change2: | 7 |
| Popular Vote2: | 2,051,012 |
| Percentage2: | 44.69% |
| Swing2: | 3.66pp |
| Image3: | 3x4.svg |
| Leader3: | Friedrich Peter |
| Party3: | Freedom Party of Austria |
| Last Election3: | 5.35%, 6 seats |
| Seats3: | 6 |
| Popular Vote3: | 253,425 |
| Percentage3: | 5.52% |
| Swing3: | 0.17pp |
| Chancellor | |
| Before Election: | Josef Klaus |
| Before Party: | Austrian People's Party |
| After Election: | Bruno Kreisky |
| After Party: | Social Democratic Party of Austria |
Parliamentary elections were held in Austria on 1 March 1970.[1] The Socialist Party (SPÖ) emerged as the largest party in the National Council, winning 81 of the 165 seats, just three seats short of an absolute majority and the first time it had become the largest party during the Second Republic. Voter turnout was 92%.[2]
After lengthy coalition negotiations with the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), the SPÖ formed a minority government with the support of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ). It is speculated that SPÖ leader Bruno Kreisky had this intention from the start and only negotiated with the ÖVP for appearances. It was the first Socialist-led government since 1920, and the first purely left-wing government in Austrian history. The SPÖ would lead the government for the next 29 years. Kreisky became Chancellor and would remain so until 1983. The Kreisky I government took office on 21 April 1970. Josef Klaus stepped down as ÖVP chairman in 1970 and his deputy succeeded him.
Early elections under the new system were held the following year, with the number of seats increased to 183. They saw the SPÖ win an outright majority.