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Far-right concedes defeat in Austrian presidential election – live | Far-right concedes defeat in Austrian presidential election – live |
(35 minutes later) | |
6.31pm GMT | |
18:31 | |
The Conference of European Rabbis, which represent more than 700 leaders of mainstream synagogues across the continent, is delighted with the defeat of the far-right candidate in Austria’s presidential election. | |
Austria has just passed a difficult test. Let’s hope that the results in Austria will strengthen political forces in Europe which are committed to combat racism, antisemitism and xenophobia. | |
The Guardian published this article on Saturday on why the community was praying the Freedom party’s Norbert Hofer would fail to win the presidency. | |
6.22pm GMT | |
18:22 | |
Fresh from Vienna, here’s Philip Oltermann’s more considered take on the unexpected outcome of Austria’s presidential election: | |
Austria on Sunday decisively rejected the possibility of European Union getting its first far-right head of state, instead electing a strongly pro-European former leader of the Green party as its next president. | |
Alexander Van der Bellen, who ran as an independent, managing to increase his lead over Freedom Party candidate Norbert Hofer by a considerable margin from the original vote in May, which was annulled by the constitutional vote due to sloppy voting. | |
The rightwing populist candidate for the Austrian presidency conceded his defeat within less than half an hour of the first exit polls, writing on Facebook: “I congratulate Alexander Van der Bellen for his success and ask all Austrians to pull together and work together. | |
The 45-year-old said he was “endlessly sad” and “would have liked to look after Austria”. | |
Freedom Party secretary Herbert Kickl, who has acted as Hofer’s campaign manager, said: “The bottom line is it didn’t quite work out. In this case the establishment - which pitched in once again to block, to stonewall and to prevent renewal - has won.” | |
Werner Kogler, a delegate for the Green Party, described the result as a “small global turning of the tide in these uncertain, not to say hysterical and even stupid times”. | |
You can read Philip’s full report here. | |
6.13pm GMT | |
18:13 | |
Germany’s foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has reacted to the news that the left-leaning, Green-backed candidate Alexander Van der Bellen is on course for an unexpectedly comfortable win over his far-right rival Norbert Hofer in the Austrian presidential elections: | |
„The whole of #Europe has heaved a sigh of relief." FM #Steinmeier on the outcome of the Presidential election in #Austria. #bpw16 #bpwahl16 | |
Updated | |
at 6.23pm GMT | |
6.09pm GMT | |
18:09 | |
Angela Giuffrida is on the ground for the Guardian in Orvieto, where she interviewed Steve Brenner, an American expat with dual citizenship who owns a hotel in Rome and voted No in the referendum because he is not convinced the reforms would actually create a more efficient, cheaper, and smaller government, as the Yes camp has said. | |
Italy, from what I understand, does not have a problem with the number of laws it passes. It has a problem with enforcing them. It has a problem with the judiciary and executive process. As for stability, the biggest problem for me in Italy is a lack of faith in government. That undermines everything and it’s what makes governments unstable. | |
Voting is underway in Orvieto, Umbria. #ItalyReferendum pic.twitter.com/BAzw3PXZjY | |
6.06pm GMT | |
18:06 | |
Back to Italy, where voters are still casting their ballots in the country’s referendum on proposed constitutional reforms. | |
Polls close at 11pm local time (10pm GMT). Exit polls – not very reliable, particularly early on in the evening – will be announced on Italian television as soon as polls close, with the first projections based on actual votes counted starting to appear from around 11.30pm. | |
Those projections are then more or less every half hour, becoming steadily more accurate as the night wears on. If the result is clear-cut, the winner could be known by around midnight – if not, the result may come as late as 3am. | |
5.57pm GMT | 5.57pm GMT |
17:57 | 17:57 |
A reader, Heather Hampson, has asked about the Guardian’s use of the terms “far right” and “alt-right” – which some see as a term that sanitises the movement it describes – and how we distinguish the two. | A reader, Heather Hampson, has asked about the Guardian’s use of the terms “far right” and “alt-right” – which some see as a term that sanitises the movement it describes – and how we distinguish the two. |
As it happens, our style team published its guidance on just this subject, along with an explanation for it, last week. Essentially, the Guardian has not banned the use of “alt-right” because it exists as a term that is used in the world, particularly in the US, and “it is the media’s job to describe and reflect the world as it is.” | As it happens, our style team published its guidance on just this subject, along with an explanation for it, last week. Essentially, the Guardian has not banned the use of “alt-right” because it exists as a term that is used in the world, particularly in the US, and “it is the media’s job to describe and reflect the world as it is.” |
But it also believes the media should describe and reflect that world – including the “alt-right” – accurately. So this is the style team’s guidance: | But it also believes the media should describe and reflect that world – including the “alt-right” – accurately. So this is the style team’s guidance: |
alt-right: Use once, with a hyphen and in quotes, at first mention, followed by the brief but broad description of it being a far-right movement. Prefer far right (noun) or far-right (adjective) at any subsequent mention. | alt-right: Use once, with a hyphen and in quotes, at first mention, followed by the brief but broad description of it being a far-right movement. Prefer far right (noun) or far-right (adjective) at any subsequent mention. |
More specific descriptions can be used where relevant when mentioning individuals associated with the movement, but such descriptions should be evidence-based. | More specific descriptions can be used where relevant when mentioning individuals associated with the movement, but such descriptions should be evidence-based. |
5.46pm GMT | 5.46pm GMT |
17:46 | 17:46 |
Alexander Van der Bellen’s provisional victory in Austria’s presidential election has been enthusiastically welcomed across the border in neighbouring Germany, which faces key elections of its own before next autumn. | Alexander Van der Bellen’s provisional victory in Austria’s presidential election has been enthusiastically welcomed across the border in neighbouring Germany, which faces key elections of its own before next autumn. |
Vice chancellor Sigmar Gabriel of the centre-left Social Democrats told Bild newspaper: | Vice chancellor Sigmar Gabriel of the centre-left Social Democrats told Bild newspaper: |
A load has been taken off the mind of all of Europe. This is a clear victory for good sense against right-wing populism. | A load has been taken off the mind of all of Europe. This is a clear victory for good sense against right-wing populism. |
Manfred Weber, the influential head of the main centre-right group in the European parliament, tweeted: | Manfred Weber, the influential head of the main centre-right group in the European parliament, tweeted: |
Austrians are sending a clear pro European signal. The right wing populists' celebration is cancelled for now. #Austria #bpw16 1/2 | Austrians are sending a clear pro European signal. The right wing populists' celebration is cancelled for now. #Austria #bpw16 1/2 |
and then added: | and then added: |
FPÖ attempt to score with campaigns of fear and lies has failed. We have to fight populists and expose them! #bpw16 2/2 | FPÖ attempt to score with campaigns of fear and lies has failed. We have to fight populists and expose them! #bpw16 2/2 |
Ulrich Kelber, another Social Democrat, suggested that Donald Trump’s election may have been a turning point and “the liberal majority pushes back”, while the Germany Greens leader, Simone Peter, said it was a “good day for Austria and Europe. The right-wing rabble-rousers have to be stopped!” | Ulrich Kelber, another Social Democrat, suggested that Donald Trump’s election may have been a turning point and “the liberal majority pushes back”, while the Germany Greens leader, Simone Peter, said it was a “good day for Austria and Europe. The right-wing rabble-rousers have to be stopped!” |
Super! Riesenfreude! Klarer Vorsprung für Sascha @vanderbellen. Ein guter Tag für Österreich u. Europa. Die rechten Hetzer sind zu stoppen! https://t.co/eUUtivih41 | Super! Riesenfreude! Klarer Vorsprung für Sascha @vanderbellen. Ein guter Tag für Österreich u. Europa. Die rechten Hetzer sind zu stoppen! https://t.co/eUUtivih41 |
5.32pm GMT | 5.32pm GMT |
17:32 | 17:32 |
In Italy, Stephanie Kirchgaessner has details of an embarrassing moment for prime minister Matteo Renzi as he cast his ballot in today’s referendum on constitutional reforms. | In Italy, Stephanie Kirchgaessner has details of an embarrassing moment for prime minister Matteo Renzi as he cast his ballot in today’s referendum on constitutional reforms. |
There’s pretty high level scrutiny for voters in Italy. You have to show identification and a voter registration card, which gets stamped once you have cast your ballot. Footage taken of prime minister Matteo Renzi shows he forgot to bring his ID, but poll workers let it go. | There’s pretty high level scrutiny for voters in Italy. You have to show identification and a voter registration card, which gets stamped once you have cast your ballot. Footage taken of prime minister Matteo Renzi shows he forgot to bring his ID, but poll workers let it go. |
Why do Italians fume that the rules don't apply to politicians? @MatteoRenzi does not bring ID to voting booth https://t.co/jUvD46qgkO | Why do Italians fume that the rules don't apply to politicians? @MatteoRenzi does not bring ID to voting booth https://t.co/jUvD46qgkO |
5.29pm GMT | 5.29pm GMT |
17:29 | 17:29 |
Norbert Hofer has posted on his Facebook page, thanking his supporters and congratulating Van der Bellen. Here’s a (rough) translation: | Norbert Hofer has posted on his Facebook page, thanking his supporters and congratulating Van der Bellen. Here’s a (rough) translation: |
Dear friends, | Dear friends, |
I would like to thank you. You have given me such great support, and I am incredibly sad that it didn’t work out. I would have liked to watch over our Austria. | I would like to thank you. You have given me such great support, and I am incredibly sad that it didn’t work out. I would have liked to watch over our Austria. |
I congratulate Alexander Van der Bellen on his success and ask all Austrians to stick together and to work together. We are all, equally, Austrians, no matter how we voted at the ballot box. | I congratulate Alexander Van der Bellen on his success and ask all Austrians to stick together and to work together. We are all, equally, Austrians, no matter how we voted at the ballot box. |
5.20pm GMT | 5.20pm GMT |
17:20 | 17:20 |
Der Spiegel’s deputy foreign editor, Mathieu van Rohr, predicts the scale of left-wing candidate Alexander Van der Bellen’s win in Austria. | Der Spiegel’s deputy foreign editor, Mathieu van Rohr, predicts the scale of left-wing candidate Alexander Van der Bellen’s win in Austria. |
That’s quite a swing, and it is at least possible that part of it may be down to voters’ uncertainty following the shock results of the Brexit referendum vote and Trump’s US presidential victory. | That’s quite a swing, and it is at least possible that part of it may be down to voters’ uncertainty following the shock results of the Brexit referendum vote and Trump’s US presidential victory. |
Van der Bellen was up by only 30.000 votes in May, will be up by 300.000 votes this time. https://t.co/bN93eMMDk6 | Van der Bellen was up by only 30.000 votes in May, will be up by 300.000 votes this time. https://t.co/bN93eMMDk6 |
5.09pm GMT | 5.09pm GMT |
17:09 | 17:09 |
The defeat of far-right candidate Norbert Hofer to the liberal, left-of-centre Alexander Van der Bellen in Austria’s presidential elections marks a setback for the Eurosceptic, anti-establishment cause in Europe. | The defeat of far-right candidate Norbert Hofer to the liberal, left-of-centre Alexander Van der Bellen in Austria’s presidential elections marks a setback for the Eurosceptic, anti-establishment cause in Europe. |
After Britain’s shock vote to leave the EU and Donald Trump’s unexpected win in the US, insurgents across the continent, including Geert Wilders of the Dutch Freedom party and Marine Le Pen of France’s Front national, hailed upsets that, in Le Pen’s words, “made the impossible possible”. | After Britain’s shock vote to leave the EU and Donald Trump’s unexpected win in the US, insurgents across the continent, including Geert Wilders of the Dutch Freedom party and Marine Le Pen of France’s Front national, hailed upsets that, in Le Pen’s words, “made the impossible possible”. |
Today’s Austrian vote was seen as the first in a strong of upcoming tests for Europe, with a victory for Hofer likely to further embolden the populists in potentially pivotal presidential and parliamentary elections due in the Netherlands, France and Germany over the course of 12 months. | Today’s Austrian vote was seen as the first in a strong of upcoming tests for Europe, with a victory for Hofer likely to further embolden the populists in potentially pivotal presidential and parliamentary elections due in the Netherlands, France and Germany over the course of 12 months. |
For a more in-depth overview of what could still turn out to be a critical year for the future of the European project in its current form, you can have a look at my analysis of the issues facing the bloc, which was published yesterday. | For a more in-depth overview of what could still turn out to be a critical year for the future of the European project in its current form, you can have a look at my analysis of the issues facing the bloc, which was published yesterday. |
Updated | Updated |
at 5.36pm GMT | at 5.36pm GMT |