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| Austria votes in run-off between far right and independent | Austria votes in run-off between far right and independent |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Austrians have begun voting in a presidential run-off poll that could elect the European Union's first far-right head of state. | |
| Norbert Hofer, of the Freedom Party, faces independent Alexander Van der Bellen, backed by the Greens. | Norbert Hofer, of the Freedom Party, faces independent Alexander Van der Bellen, backed by the Greens. |
| Mr Hofer topped the first vote but fell well short of an outright majority. The run-off is expected to be close. | Mr Hofer topped the first vote but fell well short of an outright majority. The run-off is expected to be close. |
| For the first time since World War Two, both the main centrist parties were knocked out in the first round. | For the first time since World War Two, both the main centrist parties were knocked out in the first round. |
| The migrant crisis has become the key issue. | The migrant crisis has become the key issue. |
| Ninety-thousand people claimed asylum in Austria last year, equivalent to about 1% of the Austrian population, and the Freedom Party has run a campaign against immigration. | Ninety-thousand people claimed asylum in Austria last year, equivalent to about 1% of the Austrian population, and the Freedom Party has run a campaign against immigration. |
| While the presidency is a largely ceremonial post, the president has powers to dismiss the government - something Mr Hofer has already threatened to do. | While the presidency is a largely ceremonial post, the president has powers to dismiss the government - something Mr Hofer has already threatened to do. |
| And a Hofer victory could be the springboard for Freedom Party success in the next parliamentary elections, scheduled for 2018. | And a Hofer victory could be the springboard for Freedom Party success in the next parliamentary elections, scheduled for 2018. |
| Europe will be watching: Bethany Bell, BBC News, Vienna | Europe will be watching: Bethany Bell, BBC News, Vienna |
| Austria is faced with a stark choice for its head of state: a Green Party professor, Alexander Van der Bellen, or Norbert Hofer of the far-right Freedom Party - a soft-spoken, charismatic gun enthusiast who won a decisive victory in the first round of voting in April. | Austria is faced with a stark choice for its head of state: a Green Party professor, Alexander Van der Bellen, or Norbert Hofer of the far-right Freedom Party - a soft-spoken, charismatic gun enthusiast who won a decisive victory in the first round of voting in April. |
| For the first time since the Second World War, the traditional parties of the centre left and centre right were knocked out of the race. | For the first time since the Second World War, the traditional parties of the centre left and centre right were knocked out of the race. |
| Support for the Freedom Party has risen because of deep frustration with the established parties and, more recently, because of fears about the migrant crisis. | Support for the Freedom Party has risen because of deep frustration with the established parties and, more recently, because of fears about the migrant crisis. |
| Right-wing parties are gaining strength in a number of EU countries. European leaders will be watching the result closely. | Right-wing parties are gaining strength in a number of EU countries. European leaders will be watching the result closely. |
| Read more from Bethany | Read more from Bethany |
| Is Europe lurching to the far right? | Is Europe lurching to the far right? |
| Europe's nationalist surge, country by country | Europe's nationalist surge, country by country |
| Polls opened at 07:00 (05:00 GMT) and close at 17:00, with projected results expected shortly afterwards. | Polls opened at 07:00 (05:00 GMT) and close at 17:00, with projected results expected shortly afterwards. |
| However, postal ballots, which could be crucial if the result is close, will only be tallied on Monday. | However, postal ballots, which could be crucial if the result is close, will only be tallied on Monday. |
| In the first round, Mr Hofer, 45, secured 35% of the votes, while Mr Van der Belle polled 21%. | In the first round, Mr Hofer, 45, secured 35% of the votes, while Mr Van der Belle polled 21%. |
| At his final election rally on Friday in Vienna, Mr Hofer, 45, sought to hammer home his message that immigrants needed to integrate. | At his final election rally on Friday in Vienna, Mr Hofer, 45, sought to hammer home his message that immigrants needed to integrate. |
| "Those people who respect and love Austria and have found a new home here are warmly welcome," he said to applause. | "Those people who respect and love Austria and have found a new home here are warmly welcome," he said to applause. |
| "But those, it has to be said, those who do not value our country, who fight for Islamic State, or who rape women, I say to these people: this is not your homeland. You cannot stay in Austria." | "But those, it has to be said, those who do not value our country, who fight for Islamic State, or who rape women, I say to these people: this is not your homeland. You cannot stay in Austria." |
| The presidents of the European Commission and the European Parliament, Jean-Claude Juncker and Martin Schulz, have both expressed concern that Mr Hofer could win. | The presidents of the European Commission and the European Parliament, Jean-Claude Juncker and Martin Schulz, have both expressed concern that Mr Hofer could win. |
| "I say to them very politely but firmly: we don't take orders from Brussels or Berlin," Mr Hofer said at the rally. | "I say to them very politely but firmly: we don't take orders from Brussels or Berlin," Mr Hofer said at the rally. |
| Mr Van der Bellen told his final rally in Vienna that it was likely to be a close race. | Mr Van der Bellen told his final rally in Vienna that it was likely to be a close race. |
| "I think it could be on a knife edge - 50-50 who will win, so this time, as with previous votes, but more than ever for this important election, every vote will count," he said. | "I think it could be on a knife edge - 50-50 who will win, so this time, as with previous votes, but more than ever for this important election, every vote will count," he said. |
| At a news conference, he reflected: "As you know, I am 72 years old and I've experienced how Austria rose from the ruins of World War Two, caused by the madness of nationalism." | At a news conference, he reflected: "As you know, I am 72 years old and I've experienced how Austria rose from the ruins of World War Two, caused by the madness of nationalism." |
| The two rivals had engaged in an angry TV debate earlier in the week, described as "political mud-wrestling" by commentators. | The two rivals had engaged in an angry TV debate earlier in the week, described as "political mud-wrestling" by commentators. |
| First round shock | First round shock |
| Such was the political shock at the far right's first-round win that the Chancellor (prime minister), Werner Faymann, resigned after losing the support of his Social Democratic party colleagues. | Such was the political shock at the far right's first-round win that the Chancellor (prime minister), Werner Faymann, resigned after losing the support of his Social Democratic party colleagues. |
| The Social Democrats and the People's Party have governed Austria for decades, either alone or in coalition. | The Social Democrats and the People's Party have governed Austria for decades, either alone or in coalition. |
| At the last general election in 2013, they together won just enough votes to govern in a "grand coalition". | At the last general election in 2013, they together won just enough votes to govern in a "grand coalition". |
| Incumbent President Heinz Fischer, 77, could not run again after two terms in office. | Incumbent President Heinz Fischer, 77, could not run again after two terms in office. |