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Austria election: Far right 'top' in presidential vote Austria election: Far right 'top' in first round of presidential vote
(35 minutes later)
Austria's far-right Freedom Party candidate has come top in the first round of presidential elections, projections show.Austria's far-right Freedom Party candidate has come top in the first round of presidential elections, projections show.
Norbert Hofer has about 36% of the votes - not enough to avoid a run-off in May, public broadcaster ORF says. Norbert Hofer has about 36% of the votes for the mostly ceremonial role - not enough to avoid a run-off in May.
Independent candidates Alexander Van der Bellen and Irmegard Griss are fighting for second place. Independent contenders Alexander Van der Bellen and Irmegard Griss are fighting for second place.
For the first time since World War Two, the candidates from Austria's two main parties did not make it to the run-off.For the first time since World War Two, the candidates from Austria's two main parties did not make it to the run-off.
Rudolf Hundstorfer from the Social Democrats and the People's Party Andreas Khol both have about 11% of the vote. Rudolf Hundstorfer from the Social Democrats and the People's Party Andreas Khol are each thought to have taken about 11% of the vote.
The parties have governed Austria for decades - either alone or in coalition. Both parties have governed Austria for decades - either alone or in coalition.
If no candidate secures a majority of the votes in the first round, the run-off will be held on 22 May. This is a big shake-up in Austrian politics, the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna reports, as the country has had a president from the centre-left or centre-right since 1945.
The Austrian presidency is a largely ceremonial post. The clear victory of the far-right candidate reflects widespread discontent with the status quo, as well as concerns about immigration and the economy, our correspondent says.
Support for the Social Democrats and the People's Party has been falling in recent years.
In the last general elections in 2013, the two parties won just enough votes govern in a "grand coalition"
If no candidate secures a majority of the votes in the first round of the presidential elections, the run-off will be held on 22 May.
Incumbent President Heinz Fischer, 77, cannot run again after two terms in office.