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| Austrian presidential election result 'dead heat' according to exit polls | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A divisive far-right politican who is anti-immigrant is narrowly ahead in the race to become Austria's new head of state, exit polls suggest. | |
| Norbert Hofer, of the right-wing Freedom Party, is vying with independent candidate Alexander Van der Bellen, backed by the Greens, to become the country’s next president. | Norbert Hofer, of the right-wing Freedom Party, is vying with independent candidate Alexander Van der Bellen, backed by the Greens, to become the country’s next president. |
| Polling stations closed at 4pm (GMT), with results expected shortly. | |
| Two different exit polls have given Mr Hofer the lead, but the final result is reportedly still too close to call. | |
| Presidential candidates supported by the country's two ruling parties in government – the dominant Social Democratic party and centrist People’s Party – were eliminated in the first round of voting last month. | |
| The choice faced by Austrians in today's poll reflects growing disillusionment with the government's reponse to the migrant crisis, which has seen support for the far right grow. | The choice faced by Austrians in today's poll reflects growing disillusionment with the government's reponse to the migrant crisis, which has seen support for the far right grow. |
| A win for Mr Hofer would be a seismic shift in European politics and would see him become the first far-right politician to be elected as a head of state on the continent since the Second World War. | A win for Mr Hofer would be a seismic shift in European politics and would see him become the first far-right politician to be elected as a head of state on the continent since the Second World War. |
| Indeed, former Freedom Party leader Joerg Haider once praised Adolf Hitler's employment policies as “orderly”. | Indeed, former Freedom Party leader Joerg Haider once praised Adolf Hitler's employment policies as “orderly”. |
| And Mr Hofer himself has run his election campaign on a pro-gun manifesto, carrying his Glock pistol around, and declaring that the public arming themselves would be a logical reaction to the influx of refugees into the country. | And Mr Hofer himself has run his election campaign on a pro-gun manifesto, carrying his Glock pistol around, and declaring that the public arming themselves would be a logical reaction to the influx of refugees into the country. |
| Addressing supporters at his final election rally in Vienna on Friday, the 45-year-old said: “Those people who respect and love Austria have found a new home here are warmly welcome. | Addressing supporters at his final election rally in Vienna on Friday, the 45-year-old said: “Those people who respect and love Austria have found a new home here are warmly welcome. |
| “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.” |
| At his last rally, Mr Van der Bellen, 72, said he was for “an open, Europe-friendly, Europe-conscious Austria”. | At his last rally, Mr Van der Bellen, 72, said he was for “an open, Europe-friendly, Europe-conscious Austria”. |
| Austria took in 90,000 asylum seekers last year, but has since clamped down on immigration and asylum. | Austria took in 90,000 asylum seekers last year, but has since clamped down on immigration and asylum. |
| The presidents of the European Commission and the European Parliament, Jean-Claude Juncker and Martin Schulz, have both reportedly expressed their concerns about what a win for Mr Hofer today could mean. | The presidents of the European Commission and the European Parliament, Jean-Claude Juncker and Martin Schulz, have both reportedly expressed their concerns about what a win for Mr Hofer today could mean. |
| Although the role is largely ceremonial, the Austrian president swears in the chancellor, is commander-in-chief of the military, and has the power to dismiss the cabinet – something Mr Hofer has already threatened to do if he is elected. | Although the role is largely ceremonial, the Austrian president swears in the chancellor, is commander-in-chief of the military, and has the power to dismiss the cabinet – something Mr Hofer has already threatened to do if he is elected. |
| The Freedom Party candidate unexpectedly won the first round of the election, winning 35 per cent of the vote, while Mr Van der Bellen won 21 per cent. | The Freedom Party candidate unexpectedly won the first round of the election, winning 35 per cent of the vote, while Mr Van der Bellen won 21 per cent. |