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| Austria may be about to elect Europe's first far-right leader since Hitler | Austria may be about to elect Europe's first far-right leader since Hitler |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| An anti-immigration and Eurosceptic candidate is hoping to become the first far-right European head of state since Adolf Hitler in a re-run of the Austrian presidential election. | An anti-immigration and Eurosceptic candidate is hoping to become the first far-right European head of state since Adolf Hitler in a re-run of the Austrian presidential election. |
| Norbert Hofer, a member of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPOe), is competing against the independent economist Alexander Van der Bellen - who is backed by the Green party. | Norbert Hofer, a member of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPOe), is competing against the independent economist Alexander Van der Bellen - who is backed by the Green party. |
| Hofer, a 45-year-old former aeronautical engineer, moved the emphasis from the FPOe's often xenophobic agenda to one highlighting social inequality. | Hofer, a 45-year-old former aeronautical engineer, moved the emphasis from the FPOe's often xenophobic agenda to one highlighting social inequality. |
| The gun-enthusiast has run with the slogan "unspoilt, honest, good", and won the first round of the presidential election in April with 35 per cent of the vote - knocking out the to government-back candidates. | The gun-enthusiast has run with the slogan "unspoilt, honest, good", and won the first round of the presidential election in April with 35 per cent of the vote - knocking out the to government-back candidates. |
| Relegating the issue of immigration, Hofer's campaign has focused on economic reforms and a call for a more Swiss-style direct democracy. | Relegating the issue of immigration, Hofer's campaign has focused on economic reforms and a call for a more Swiss-style direct democracy. |
| In May, he lost the presidential election by just 31,000 votes to Mr Van der Bellen - but after FPOe cried foul, voting irregularites were uncovered and a re-run was organised for Sunday 4th December. | |
| Despite softening his message, Hofer has called for Austria's borders to be "protected" and has warned against the "dangers of the wrong immigration policy". | Despite softening his message, Hofer has called for Austria's borders to be "protected" and has warned against the "dangers of the wrong immigration policy". |
| Speaking to a young Austrian Muslim on a talk show in May, the far-right presidential candidate said Islam "has no place in Austria" as it poses a threat to the country's Judeo-Christian and humanist values. | Speaking to a young Austrian Muslim on a talk show in May, the far-right presidential candidate said Islam "has no place in Austria" as it poses a threat to the country's Judeo-Christian and humanist values. |
| A Financial Times editorial said of the possibility of Hofer winning: "That a far-right candidate for a party founded partly by Nazis and with a history of anti-Semitism could be so close to power at the heart of Europe is self-evidently troubling." | A Financial Times editorial said of the possibility of Hofer winning: "That a far-right candidate for a party founded partly by Nazis and with a history of anti-Semitism could be so close to power at the heart of Europe is self-evidently troubling." |
| Voter, Helwig Leibinger told AFP at a Hofer's rally: "We hope that Hofer can ensure that our borders remain closed, that we have controls, that we have security. | Voter, Helwig Leibinger told AFP at a Hofer's rally: "We hope that Hofer can ensure that our borders remain closed, that we have controls, that we have security. |
| "We want a commander-in-chief of the armed forces who can give the right orders. | "We want a commander-in-chief of the armed forces who can give the right orders. |
| "There are new parties representing different points of view on the rise... We want to be part of the EU but not to lose our identity." | "There are new parties representing different points of view on the rise... We want to be part of the EU but not to lose our identity." |
| Since 1945, Austria's president has a largely ceremonial role, but the constitution gives the head of state considerable powers - as yet unused - including to fire the government. | Since 1945, Austria's president has a largely ceremonial role, but the constitution gives the head of state considerable powers - as yet unused - including to fire the government. |