This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24321045
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Austria's 'grand coalition' projected to win election | Austria's 'grand coalition' projected to win election |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Polls have closed in Austria's general election, with the ruling two-party "grand coalition" set 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. |
| Projections suggest the Social Democrats (SPOe) and the conservative People's Party (OeVP) have - just - retained 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 the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) will be celebrating a projected rise in its share of the vote to 22.4%. | But the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) will be celebrating a projected rise in its share of the vote to 22.4%. |
| More than six million Austrian voters were eligible to vote. | More than six million Austrian voters were eligible to vote. |
| 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. |
| Freedom Party success | Freedom Party success |
| Initial projections published on Austria's public broadcaster gave Chancellor Werner Faymann's Social Democrats 26.4% and the People's Party 23.8%. | Initial projections published on Austria's public broadcaster gave Chancellor Werner Faymann's Social Democrats 26.4% and the People's Party 23.8%. |
| That projection gives them a slim combined absolute majority of 50.2%, down from 55.3% in 2008. Other projections gave similar results. If confirmed, Mr Faymann would most likely remain at the head of the coalition as chancellor. | |
| But if the predictions are correct, the anti-immigration, Eurosceptic Freedom Party increased its 17.5% share in 2008 by nearly five percentage points. | But if the predictions are correct, the anti-immigration, Eurosceptic Freedom Party increased its 17.5% share in 2008 by nearly five percentage points. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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 | Scandals and inertia |
| Both parties have dominated Austrian politics since World War II, and appear set to continue to govern until at least 2018. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Preliminary official results are expected later on Sunday - though postal votes will not be counted until Monday. | Preliminary official results are expected later on Sunday - though postal votes will not be counted until Monday. |