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Austria's 'grand coalition' eyes election victory Austria's 'grand coalition' projected to win election
(about 11 hours later)
Austrians are voting in a general election, with the ruling two-party "grand coalition" predicted to secure another five-year term. Polls have closed in Austria's general election, with the ruling two-party "grand coalition" set 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. Projections suggest the Social Democrats (SPOe) and the conservative People's Party (OeVP) have - just - retained a majority in parliament.
But a bad result may force the pro-Europe parties to seek a third partner. But the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) will be celebrating a projected rise in its share of the vote to 22.4%.
Several Eurosceptic parties - including the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) - are also running in the elections. More than six million Austrian voters were eligible to vote.
Scandals and inertia
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%). Freedom Party success
The governing parties have each claimed credit for keeping unemployment low during years of economic difficulties for the European Union. Initial projections published on Austria's public broadcaster gave Chancellor Werner Faymann's Social Democrats 26.4% and the People's Party 23.8%.
The SPOe has also been focusing on pensions, pledging a tax on "millionaires" and cuts for low earners. That projection gives them a slim combined absolute majority of 50.2%, down from 55.3% in 2008. Other projections gave similar results.
Meanwhile, the OeVP - led by Michael Spindelegger - has been campaigning for measures to free businesses from red tape, rejecting the proposed wealth tax. But if the predictions are correct, the anti-immigration, Eurosceptic Freedom Party increased its 17.5% share in 2008 by nearly five percentage points.
Both parties have dominated Austrian politics since World War II, and may well continue to govern until at least 2018. That will give leader Heinz-Christian Strache much to cheer, though it still falls short of the shock 27% the party achieved under Joerg Haider in 1999.
The governing parties had each claimed credit for keeping unemployment low during years of economic difficulties for the European Union.
The Social Democrats have also been focusing on pensions, pledging a tax on "millionaires" and cuts for low earners.
Meanwhile, the People's Party - led by Michael Spindelegger - has been campaigning for measures to free businesses from red tape, rejecting the proposed wealth tax.
Scandals and inertia
Both parties have dominated Austrian politics since World War II, and appear set to 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 Freedom Party appears to have benefited 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. The Eurosceptic Team Stronach of Austro-Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach appears to have gained a foothold in parliament, winning 6%. The liberal New Austria party - Neos - will also be a newcomer to parliament if its projected 4.7% is confirmed.
Polls opened at 05:00 GMT and will close at 15:00 GMT, with the first results expected within hours. The Greens were projected to take 11.2%, a rise of 0.8%. In addition to their traditional environment themes, they have sought to capitalise on a funding scandal involving the coalition.
However, if the result if close, the outcome may not be clear until Monday, when absentee ballots are counted. Preliminary official results are expected later on Sunday - though postal votes will not be counted until Monday.