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Austria may be about to elect Europe's first far-right leader since Hitler Austria election: Far-right candidate Norbert Hofer concedes defeat
(about 2 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. Austria's Norbert Hofer has conceded defeat after his hopes of becoming the European Union's first far-right president were dashed.
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. The first official results showed left-leaning candidate Alexander Van der Bellen with what appeared to be an unbeatable lead over his rival.
Hofer, a 45-year-old former aeronautical engineer, moved the emphasis from the FPOe's often xenophobic agenda to one highlighting social inequality. When the results were released shortly after polls closed on Sunday, Mr Van der Bellen had 53.5 per cent, while Mr Hofer had 46.4 per cent.
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. Austria's Freedom Party conceded defeat within minutes of the poll projections being released. 
Relegating the issue of immigration, Hofer's campaign has focused on economic reforms and a call for a more Swiss-style direct democracy. "I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr Van der Bellen," the party's chief strategist told Austrian media.
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. "The bottom line is it didn't quite work out," he said. "In this case the establishment — which pitched in once again to block, to stonewall and to prevent renewal — has won."
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".  Mr Hofer congratulated his opponent on Facebook and called on "all Austrians to stick together and work together".
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. He was "incredibly sad," he added.
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." While votes continue to be counted, officials say they will not change the outcome but the percentages may still vary. 
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. The margin came as a surprise — polls ahead of Sunday's vote had shown the two candidates neck-and-neck. 
"We want a commander-in-chief of the armed forces who can give the right orders. The election is a court-ordered re-run of a May vote that Mr Van der Bellen won by less than one per cent.
"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." An anti-immigration and Eurosceptic candidate, Mr Hofer was hoping to become the first far-right European head of state since Adolf Hitler in the election.
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. Hofer, a 45-year-old former aeronautical engineer, moved the emphasis from the Austrian Freedom Party's (FPOe) often xenophobic agenda to one highlighting social inequality.
The gun-enthusiast has ran 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 top government-backed candidates.
Relegating the issue of immigration, Mr Hofer's campaign then 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.
Despite softening his message, Hofer called for Austria's borders to be "protected" and warned against the "dangers of the wrong immigration policy". 
Speaking to a young Austrian Muslim on a talk show in May, he said Islam "has no place in Austria" as it poses a threat to the country's Judeo-Christian and humanist values.