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Austria election: far-right candidate Norbert Hofer ahead in exit poll Austria election: far-right candidate Norbert Hofer ahead in exit poll
(35 minutes later)
Preliminary results show Norbert Hofer with a slender lead in the vote for the Austrian presidency, a result that if confirmed would mean the election of the European Union’s first far-right head of state. Austria’s presidential elections have revealed a deeply divided country, with exit polls showing rightwing populist Norbert Hofer tied with former Green politician Alexander Van der Bellen, who is running as an independent.
Exit polls by broadcaster 50
First results had shown a slender lead for Freedom Party (FPÖ) politician Hofer, whose election would mean the election of the European Union’s first far-right head of state.
Exit polls put Hofer of the Freedom party (FPÖ) on 50.2%, a marginal lead over his rival, Alexander Van der Bellen, a former Green party politician who is running as an independent, on 49.8%.Exit polls put Hofer of the Freedom party (FPÖ) on 50.2%, a marginal lead over his rival, Alexander Van der Bellen, a former Green party politician who is running as an independent, on 49.8%.
However, with a margin of error of 2% and cities including Vienna still to be called, the result could well change over the course of the evening.However, with a margin of error of 2% and cities including Vienna still to be called, the result could well change over the course of the evening.
Voter turnout was 72.4%, up four percentage points on the first round of the presidential election in April.Voter turnout was 72.4%, up four percentage points on the first round of the presidential election in April.
Van der Bellen won majorities in most of Austria’s cities, gaining 62% of the vote in Graz and 56% in Salzburg.
Hofer cast his vote in his home town of Pinkafeld in the Burgenland region, saying he was hoping to get between 48% and 52% of the vote.Hofer cast his vote in his home town of Pinkafeld in the Burgenland region, saying he was hoping to get between 48% and 52% of the vote.
Asked about his role in helping to take the FPÖ in a more nationalist direction, Hofer said: “I have to work, and then it will be OK. I am not a dangerous person.” In the run-up to the elections, questions were raised about Hofer’s background in the far-right fraternity culture and proximity to people advocating a Greater Germany.Asked about his role in helping to take the FPÖ in a more nationalist direction, Hofer said: “I have to work, and then it will be OK. I am not a dangerous person.” In the run-up to the elections, questions were raised about Hofer’s background in the far-right fraternity culture and proximity to people advocating a Greater Germany.
The views of 45-year-old Hofer and 72-year-old Van der Bellen differ strongly on a series of key issues, including the refugee crisis and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement (TTIP) between the European Union and America. During a fraught election campaign that has divided the country, 45-year-old Hofer and 72-year-old Van der Bellen have clashed on a series of key issues, including the refugee crisis and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement (TTIP) between the European Union and America.
Supporters of both candidates celebrated initial results. The FPÖ’s leader, Heinz-Christian Strache, claimed to have seen exit poll figures indicating a significantly higher lead for his candidate, accusing the public broadcaster ORF of deliberately opting for a tighter poll. Supporters from both camps celebrated initial results. The FPÖ’s leader, Heinz-Christian Strache, claimed to have seen exit poll figures indicating a significantly higher lead for his candidate, accusing the public broadcaster ORF of deliberately opting for a tighter poll.
While the Austrian presidency has been interpreted mainly as a ceremonial role by the centrist politicians who have held the post in the past, there are fears that Hofer could use the instruments of the president’s office to dissolve the government and usher in a chancellor from his own party, which is currently leading in the polls.While the Austrian presidency has been interpreted mainly as a ceremonial role by the centrist politicians who have held the post in the past, there are fears that Hofer could use the instruments of the president’s office to dissolve the government and usher in a chancellor from his own party, which is currently leading in the polls.
Some constitutional experts question whether a president would be able to dissolve the government without presenting a plausible reason to do so.
Poor results in he first election round for the two governing parties, the centre-left SPÖ and the centre-right ÖVP, triggered the resignation of social democrat chancellor Werner Faymann, who has been replaced by Christian Kern, previously the head of Austria’s federal railway.
Austria is scheduled to hold its next federal election in 2018.