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| Austria's 'grand coalition' eyes election victory | Austria's 'grand coalition' eyes election victory |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Voters in Austria are due to vote in general elections, with the ruling two-party "grand coalition" predicted to secure another five-year term. | Voters in Austria are due to vote in general elections, with the ruling two-party "grand coalition" predicted to secure another five-year term. |
| Opinion polls suggest Chancellor Werner Faymann's Social Democrats (SPOe) and the conservative People's Party (OeVP) will retain a majority in parliament. | Opinion polls suggest Chancellor Werner Faymann's Social Democrats (SPOe) and the conservative People's Party (OeVP) will retain a majority in parliament. |
| But a bad result may force the pro-Europe parties to seek a third partner. | But a bad result may force the pro-Europe parties to seek a third partner. |
| Several Eurosceptic parties - including the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) - are also running in the elections. | Several Eurosceptic parties - including the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) - are also running in the elections. |
| Scandals and inertia | Scandals and inertia |
| On Sunday, more than six million Austrian voters are eligible to take part in the elections. | On Sunday, more than six million Austrian voters are eligible to take part in the elections. |
| They are choosing 183 deputies to the lower house of parliament. A party must cross a 4% hurdle to be represented in the chamber. | They are choosing 183 deputies to the lower house of parliament. A party must cross a 4% hurdle to be represented in the chamber. |
| The latest polls put the SPOe - which is currently the party with the most seats - at 27%, while the OeVP was at 22%. The anti-immigrant FPOe was close third (21%). | The latest polls put the SPOe - which is currently the party with the most seats - at 27%, while the OeVP was at 22%. The anti-immigrant FPOe was close third (21%). |
| The governing parties have each claimed credit for keeping unemployment low during years of economic difficulties for the European Union. | The governing parties have each claimed credit for keeping unemployment low during years of economic difficulties for the European Union. |
| The SPOe has also been focusing on pensions, pledging a tax on "millionaires" and cuts for low earners. | The SPOe has also been focusing on pensions, pledging a tax on "millionaires" and cuts for low earners. |
| Meanwhile, the OeVP - led by Michael Spindelegger - has been campaigning for measures to free businesses from red tape, rejecting the proposed wealth tax. | Meanwhile, the OeVP - led by Michael Spindelegger - has been campaigning for measures to free businesses from red tape, rejecting the proposed wealth tax. |
| Both parties have dominated Austrian politics since World War II, and may well continue to govern until at least 2018. | Both parties have dominated Austrian politics since World War II, and may well continue to govern until at least 2018. |
| However, a series of scandals and perceived inertia have hit their popularity among the voters. | However, a series of scandals and perceived inertia have hit their popularity among the voters. |
| The FPOe, headed by by Heinz-Christian Strache, is hoping to benefit from this slump. The party has accused the coalition of bloating the public sector, corruption and permitting too much immigration. | The FPOe, headed by by Heinz-Christian Strache, is hoping to benefit from this slump. The party has accused the coalition of bloating the public sector, corruption and permitting too much immigration. |
| Also expected to do well are the Greens. In addition to their traditional environment themes, they have sought to capitalise on a funding scandal involving the coalition. | Also expected to do well are the Greens. In addition to their traditional environment themes, they have sought to capitalise on a funding scandal involving the coalition. |
| Polls open at 05:00 GMT and close at 15:00 GMT, with the first results expected within hours. | |
| However, if the result if close, the outcome may not be clear until Monday, when absentee ballots are counted. | However, if the result if close, the outcome may not be clear until Monday, when absentee ballots are counted. |