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Austria election: far-right candidate and rival tied at 50% in exit poll Austria election: far-right candidate and rival tied at 50% in exit poll
(35 minutes later)
Austria’s political future was on a knife-edge last night, with the candidate bidding to be European Union’s first far-right president in a wafer-thin lead over his rival. Austria’s political future is on a knife-edge, with the candidate bidding to be the European Union’s first far-right president holding a wafer-thin lead over his rival.
According to public broadcaster ORF, Norbert Hofer of rightwing populist Freedom Party (FPÖ) was neck-to-neck on 50% with his rival Alexander Van der Bellen, a former Green party leader who is running as an independent. According to the public broadcaster ORF, Norbert Hofer of the rightwing populist Freedom party (FPÖ) was neck and neck on 50% with his rival Alexander Van der Bellen, a former Green party leader who is running as an independent.
Postal ballots, accounting for 14% of eligible voters and expected to favour the left-leaning candidate, will only be tallied on Monday. Fifty percent and one vote would suffice to hand the presidency to one of the two candidates. Postal ballots, accounting for 14% of eligible voters and expected to favour the left-leaning candidate, will only be tallied on Monday. Fifty percent and one vote would suffice to hand the presidency to one of the two candidates. Data by Austria’s interior ministry, which does not take into account the projected postal vote, put Hofer on 51.9%, ahead of Van der Bellen on 48.1%.
Data by Austria’s interior ministry, which doesn’t take into account the projected postal vote, put Hofer on 51.9%, ahead of Van der Bellen on 48.1%. Even though the Austrian presidency is mainly a ceremonial role, a vote of 50% for the far-right politician Hofer already represents a political earthquake in a country in which two centrist parties have dominated the landscape since 1945, and will be celebrated as a triumph by xenophobic parties across the continent.
Even though the Austrian presidency is mainly a ceremonial role, a vote of 50% for far-right politician Hofer already represents a political earthquake in a country in which two centrist parties have dominated the landscape since 1945, and will be celebrated as a triumph by eurosceptic and xenophobic parties across the continent. Initial exit poll results had shown a slender lead for Hofer. However, the economist academic Van der Bellen performed strongly in cities across the country, gaining 62% of the vote in Graz, 61% in Vienna and 56% in Salzburg.
First results had shown a slender lead for Hofer. However, the economist academic Van der Bellen performed strongly in cities across the country, gaining 62% of the vote in Graz, 61% in Vienna and 56% in Salzburg.
Voter turnout was 71.8%, up on the first round of the presidential election in April.Voter turnout was 71.8%, up on the first round of the presidential election in April.
Supporters from both camps celebrated initial results. The mood at the FPÖ’s election party at Vienna’s Prater amusement park close to the city’s famous big wheel, was upbeat. Over beer and sausages members sat amid balloons in the party’s trademark blue and Austrian flags, glued to a large screen at the Alpendorf bar as the results came in. Earlier in the day, while had casting his vote in his home town of Pinkafeld in the Burgenland region, Hofer had told the press: “I am not a dangerous person.” In the run-up to the elections, questions were raised about Hofer’s background in the far-right fraternity culture and proximity to people advocating a Greater Germany.
There were shrugs and sighs as it was shown that in Vienna Hofer had only secured 37 per cent compared to van der Bellen’s 63, but huge cheers and back slapping when it was revealed that Hofer had won 53 per cent, to his opponent’s 47 in Lower Austria. Supporters from both camps celebrated the initial results. The mood at the FPÖ’s election party at Vienna’s Prater amusement park, close to the city’s famous big wheel, was upbeat. Over beer and sausages members sat amid balloons in the party’s trademark blue and Austrian flags, glued to a large screen at the Alpendorf bar as the results came in.
A folksy band sang ‘Alles Wird Gut’ (all will be well), with the lead singer telling the cheering crowds: “For 25 years now we’ve held the dream of a new Austria and now we’re so excited to be on the verge of finally getting it”. There were shrugs and sighs as it was shown that in Vienna Hofer had only secured 37% compared to Van der Bellen’s 63% in one region, but huge cheers and back slapping when it was revealed that Hofer had won 53% to his opponent’s 47% in Lower Austria.
The FPÖ’s leader, Heinz-Christian Strache, accused the public broadcaster ORF of deliberately not showing the figures of the interior ministry, which had given Hofer a significantly higher lead. A folksy band sang Alles Wird Gut (all will be well), with the lead singer telling the cheering crowds: “For 25 years now we’ve held the dream of a new Austria and now we’re so excited to be on the verge of finally getting it.”
In a television interview, Hofer said: “Whoever wins will have the task of uniting Austria once again. At the end of the day, we’re all Austrians” The FPÖ’s leader, Heinz-Christian Strache, accused the public broadcaster ORF of deliberately not showing the figures of the interior ministry, which had put Hofer in the lead.
Asked if he won whether he would try to appease his critics from abroad who liken the political mood in Austria to that before the rise of the nazi party, Hofer responded: “Of course it’s completely absurd to claim that. If you compare our party programme to that of the Republicans, it’s just a baseless claim.”The journalist pressed him, “but how would you try to convince them you’re not extreme right as they claim?” Hofer said: “I’d tell them that this is not a reflection of the facts. I’d sort things out very quickly just by the daily contact I have with them, I’d be able to persuade them they have nothing to fear.” In a television interview, Hofer said: “Whoever wins will have the task of uniting Austria once again. At the end of the day, we’re all Austrians.”
Earlier in the day, while casting his vote in his home town of Pinkafeld in the Burgenland region, Hofer had told the press that “I am not a dangerous person.” In the run-up to the elections, questions were raised about Hofer’s background in the far-right fraternity culture and proximity to people advocating a Greater Germany. Asked if he won whether he would try to appease his critics from abroad who liken the political mood in Austria to that before the rise of the Nazi party, Hofer responded: “Of course it’s completely absurd to claim that … it’s just a baseless claim.”
Van der Bellen last night said he had been moved over the past two weeks since the first round, at the Austrians who had mobilised to support him “from across the generations, and classes”. That has carried me considerably, and I’m very grateful.” He said if he won, one of his first priorities would be to create more jobs, Austria having seen its unemployment rate double in the past three years. The journalist pressed him: “But how would you try to convince them you’re not extreme right as they claim?” Hofer said: “I’d tell them that this is not a reflection of the facts. I’d sort things out very quickly just by the daily contact I have with them. I’d be able to persuade them they have nothing to fear.”
During a fraught election campaign that has divided the country, 45-year-old Hofer and 72-year-old Van der Bellen have clashed on a series of key issues, including the refugee crisis and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement (TTIP) between the European Union and America. Van der Bellen on Sunday night said he had been moved in the two weeks since the first round at the Austrians who had mobilised to support him “from across the generations, and classes. That has carried me considerably, and I’m very grateful.” He said that if he won, one of his first priorities would be to create more jobs. Austria has seen its unemployment rate double in the past three years.
During a fraught election campaign that has divided the country, 45-year-old Hofer and 72-year-old Van der Bellen clashed on a series of key issues, including the refugee crisis and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement (TTIP) between the European Union and America.
While the Austrian presidency has been interpreted mainly as a ceremonial role by the centrist politicians who have held the post in the past, there are fears that Hofer could use the instruments of the president’s office to dissolve the government and usher in a chancellor from his own party, which is currently leading in the polls.While the Austrian presidency has been interpreted mainly as a ceremonial role by the centrist politicians who have held the post in the past, there are fears that Hofer could use the instruments of the president’s office to dissolve the government and usher in a chancellor from his own party, which is currently leading in the polls.
Some constitutional experts question whether a president would be able to dissolve the government without presenting a plausible reason to do so.Some constitutional experts question whether a president would be able to dissolve the government without presenting a plausible reason to do so.
Poor results in the first election round for the two governing parties, the centre-left SPÖ and the centre-right ÖVP, triggered the resignation of the social democrat chancellor Werner Faymann, who has been replaced by Christian Kern, previously the head of Austria’s federal railway company.Poor results in the first election round for the two governing parties, the centre-left SPÖ and the centre-right ÖVP, triggered the resignation of the social democrat chancellor Werner Faymann, who has been replaced by Christian Kern, previously the head of Austria’s federal railway company.
Austria is scheduled to hold its next federal election by September 2018.Austria is scheduled to hold its next federal election by September 2018.