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Austria presidential election result: Alexander Van der Bellen wins over far-right candidate Norbert Hofer | Austria presidential election result: Alexander Van der Bellen wins over far-right candidate Norbert Hofer |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Alexander Van der Bellen has narrowly beaten his far-right rival Norbert Hofer to become Austria's new head of state. | Alexander Van der Bellen has narrowly beaten his far-right rival Norbert Hofer to become Austria's new head of state. |
Despite two different exit polls giving Mr Hofer of the right-wing Freedom Party the lead, Austria's interior minister announced independent candidate Mr Van der Bellen will become the country's next president. | |
Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said Mr Van der Bellen collected 50.3 per cent of the votes, compared to 49.7 for Mr Hofer. | Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said Mr Van der Bellen collected 50.3 per cent of the votes, compared to 49.7 for Mr Hofer. |
Mr Van der Bellen, 72, campaigned on a pro-EU platform and was backed by the Greens. Although officially independent, he led the Greens for a decade and has been hailed as the world's first Green head of state. | |
Nearly 700,000 absentee ballots were counted on Monday to determine the winner of the knife-edge election. Only a little more than 31,000 votes separated the two, out of more than 4.6 million votes cast. | Nearly 700,000 absentee ballots were counted on Monday to determine the winner of the knife-edge election. Only a little more than 31,000 votes separated the two, out of more than 4.6 million votes cast. |
Sunday's provisional result, which did not include postal ballots, showed Mr Hofer ahead with 51.1 per cent to Mr Van der Bellen's 48.1 per cent. | Sunday's provisional result, which did not include postal ballots, showed Mr Hofer ahead with 51.1 per cent to Mr Van der Bellen's 48.1 per cent. |
Mr Hofer conceded defeat in a post on Facebook. | Mr Hofer conceded defeat in a post on Facebook. |
He said he was "naturally sad", adding: "I would have been happy to have cared for our wonderful country as federal president." | He said he was "naturally sad", adding: "I would have been happy to have cared for our wonderful country as federal president." |
He said the work his supporters put in during the election is "not lost but an investment in the future". | He said the work his supporters put in during the election is "not lost but an investment in the future". |
"It's a relief to see the Austrians reject populism and extremism," French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said in a Twitter post. "Everyone in Europe must draw lessons from this." | "It's a relief to see the Austrians reject populism and extremism," French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said in a Twitter post. "Everyone in Europe must draw lessons from this." |
Austria's presidency is a largely ceremonial role, but has important powers such as the ability to dismiss the National Council, a move which would trigger a general election. |