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Austria election: Unity call after close defeat for far right | Austria election: Unity call after close defeat for far right |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Austria's new president has vowed to listen to the people's "fear and anger" after his far-right opponent narrowly missed out on a landmark victory. | Austria's new president has vowed to listen to the people's "fear and anger" after his far-right opponent narrowly missed out on a landmark victory. |
Independent Alexander Van der Bellen beat the Freedom Party's Norbert Hofer by just 31,000 votes among the 4.64 million cast in Sunday's election. | Independent Alexander Van der Bellen beat the Freedom Party's Norbert Hofer by just 31,000 votes among the 4.64 million cast in Sunday's election. |
The victor accepted there was a "rift" but said: "We are two sides of the same coin. Together we make up Austria." | The victor accepted there was a "rift" but said: "We are two sides of the same coin. Together we make up Austria." |
Mainstream European politicians expressed relief at the result. | |
If he had won, Mr Hofer would have become the first far-right head of state of a European Union nation. | |
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said all of Europe was "breathing more easily''. | |
And French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said it was a "relief" to see Austrians "reject populism and extremism". | |
Mr Hofer had run on a Eurosceptic, anti-immigration platform. Many nations have seen a surge in nationalist and anti-immigration parties amid the migrant crisis and economic uncertainty. | |
'Non-partisan president' | 'Non-partisan president' |
In his victory speech, Mr Van der Bellen, a pro-EU candidate backed by the Greens, said he accepted that many people believed that they were not being heard. | In his victory speech, Mr Van der Bellen, a pro-EU candidate backed by the Greens, said he accepted that many people believed that they were not being heard. |
He said: "We need a different culture of dialogue and a political system which deals with people's fears and anger." | He said: "We need a different culture of dialogue and a political system which deals with people's fears and anger." |
Mr Van der Bellen, 72, said he would "work towards winning the trust of Norbert Hofer's voters" and try to be "a non-partisan president for all the people in Austria". | Mr Van der Bellen, 72, said he would "work towards winning the trust of Norbert Hofer's voters" and try to be "a non-partisan president for all the people in Austria". |
He added: "There's been a lot of talk about this country's rifts. But I think you can also interpret the split as a sign that we are two sides of the same coin and each side is as important as the other." | He added: "There's been a lot of talk about this country's rifts. But I think you can also interpret the split as a sign that we are two sides of the same coin and each side is as important as the other." |
Analysis: Jenny Hill, BBC News, Pinkafeld | Analysis: Jenny Hill, BBC News, Pinkafeld |
While he awaited the result, the man who could have become the EU's first far right leader mowed his lawn. I met Norbert Hofer in his hometown - about an hour's drive from Vienna. We chatted at his garden gate - he was still perched on his ride-on lawnmower. | While he awaited the result, the man who could have become the EU's first far right leader mowed his lawn. I met Norbert Hofer in his hometown - about an hour's drive from Vienna. We chatted at his garden gate - he was still perched on his ride-on lawnmower. |
These elections, he said, would go down in history. And, he told me, whoever won would have to work to unite this country. | These elections, he said, would go down in history. And, he told me, whoever won would have to work to unite this country. |
Perhaps he's right. The election has split Austria and exposed, once again, deep divisions in Europe - how to deal with the migrant crisis, the economy and how to balance national interests against those of the EU. | Perhaps he's right. The election has split Austria and exposed, once again, deep divisions in Europe - how to deal with the migrant crisis, the economy and how to balance national interests against those of the EU. |
And what's characterised this vote - widespread disillusionment with the political mainstream and growing support for Mr Hofer's far-right Freedom Party - is reflected across a growing number of European countries. | And what's characterised this vote - widespread disillusionment with the political mainstream and growing support for Mr Hofer's far-right Freedom Party - is reflected across a growing number of European countries. |
Austria digests poll drama | Austria digests poll drama |
Is Europe lurching to the far right? | Is Europe lurching to the far right? |
Chancellor Christian Kern said the vote was "worryingly close... and therefore it is of particular importance to us that... no voter feels like they have lost." | Chancellor Christian Kern said the vote was "worryingly close... and therefore it is of particular importance to us that... no voter feels like they have lost." |
The Austrian presidency is largely a ceremonial post. But the president can dissolve the lower house of parliament and call elections without the need for permission from the ruling party. | The Austrian presidency is largely a ceremonial post. But the president can dissolve the lower house of parliament and call elections without the need for permission from the ruling party. |
'Gigantic showing' | 'Gigantic showing' |
Mr Hofer said on his Facebook page (in German) it was a "sad day" but added: "Please don't be disheartened. The effort in this election campaign is not wasted, but is an investment for the future." | Mr Hofer said on his Facebook page (in German) it was a "sad day" but added: "Please don't be disheartened. The effort in this election campaign is not wasted, but is an investment for the future." |
Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache said: "This is just the beginning." | Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache said: "This is just the beginning." |
France's National Front praised a "historic performance". | France's National Front praised a "historic performance". |
Mr Van der Bellen and Mr Hofer were contesting the run-off after the candidates of the two parties that have dominated Austrian politics since World War Two were eliminated. | Mr Van der Bellen and Mr Hofer were contesting the run-off after the candidates of the two parties that have dominated Austrian politics since World War Two were eliminated. |
Opinion polls suggest that it parliamentary elections were held now, the Freedom Party would win. The next polls are scheduled for 2018. | Opinion polls suggest that it parliamentary elections were held now, the Freedom Party would win. The next polls are scheduled for 2018. |
Alexander Van der Bellen | Alexander Van der Bellen |
Alexander Van der Bellen is the first environmental activist to become Austrian president. He is a chain-smoker and left-leaning liberal committed to the EU. | Alexander Van der Bellen is the first environmental activist to become Austrian president. He is a chain-smoker and left-leaning liberal committed to the EU. |
He is the son of aristocratic refugees from Russia's 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. First they escaped from Pskov to Estonia, then in 1940 they fled the Soviet occupation - the communist takeover of the Baltic states. | He is the son of aristocratic refugees from Russia's 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. First they escaped from Pskov to Estonia, then in 1940 they fled the Soviet occupation - the communist takeover of the Baltic states. |
The family settled in Austria's Tyrol region. Alexander grew up in Kaunertal and does not speak Russian. His surname harks back to Dutch ancestry. | The family settled in Austria's Tyrol region. Alexander grew up in Kaunertal and does not speak Russian. His surname harks back to Dutch ancestry. |
He studied economics at the University of Innsbruck and was later appointed professor at Vienna University. He retired from academia in 2009. | He studied economics at the University of Innsbruck and was later appointed professor at Vienna University. He retired from academia in 2009. |
He was elected to parliament for the Greens in 1994, and from 1997-2008 was the party's spokesman. | He was elected to parliament for the Greens in 1994, and from 1997-2008 was the party's spokesman. |
In a TV debate, one of the few things he agreed on with Mr Hofer was that neither would accept TTIP - the free trade deal the EU is negotiating with the US. | In a TV debate, one of the few things he agreed on with Mr Hofer was that neither would accept TTIP - the free trade deal the EU is negotiating with the US. |
The breakdown of the vote | The breakdown of the vote |
In nine out of Austria's 10 main cities Mr Van der Bellen came top, whereas Mr Hofer dominated the rural areas, the Austrian broadcaster ORF reported (in German). | In nine out of Austria's 10 main cities Mr Van der Bellen came top, whereas Mr Hofer dominated the rural areas, the Austrian broadcaster ORF reported (in German). |
Support for Mr Hofer was exceptionally strong among manual workers - nearly 90%. The vote for Mr Van der Bellen was much stronger among people with a university degree or other higher education qualifications. | Support for Mr Hofer was exceptionally strong among manual workers - nearly 90%. The vote for Mr Van der Bellen was much stronger among people with a university degree or other higher education qualifications. |
Support for Mr Hofer among men was 60%, while among women it was 60% for Mr Van der Bellen. | Support for Mr Hofer among men was 60%, while among women it was 60% for Mr Van der Bellen. |
Have you voted in the Austrian presidential election? If you are happy to discuss the election, email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story. | Have you voted in the Austrian presidential election? If you are happy to discuss the election, email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |