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| Austria’s Highest Court Orders Repeat of Presidential Runoff | Austria’s Highest Court Orders Repeat of Presidential Runoff |
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| BERLIN — Austria’s highest court threw out the results of the nation’s presidential election on Friday, giving a far right, euroskeptic party a second chance to win, and putting debates central to the future of the European Union back in the cross hairs of voters only a week after Britain’s shocking decision to quit. | BERLIN — Austria’s highest court threw out the results of the nation’s presidential election on Friday, giving a far right, euroskeptic party a second chance to win, and putting debates central to the future of the European Union back in the cross hairs of voters only a week after Britain’s shocking decision to quit. |
| The aftershocks of the British referendum to leave the 28-nation bloc did not stop there, as Central and Eastern European nations demanded on Friday that the European Union do a better job of dealing with migration — a chief worry in both Britain and Austria. The fault lines in the unified front that European leaders have tried to present since the British referendum may set back the cautious, go-slow approach of Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany. | The aftershocks of the British referendum to leave the 28-nation bloc did not stop there, as Central and Eastern European nations demanded on Friday that the European Union do a better job of dealing with migration — a chief worry in both Britain and Austria. The fault lines in the unified front that European leaders have tried to present since the British referendum may set back the cautious, go-slow approach of Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany. |
| Citing irregularities in ballot counting, Austria’s highest court ordered a do-over of the country’s presidential runoff, which a far-right, euroskeptic candidate, Norbert Hofer, narrowly lost in May. It was the first time the country had ordered a rerun of a national election since 1945, when the Nazis were defeated. Mr. Hofer, if he wins, would be the first far-right politician elected head of state in Europe since World War II. | Citing irregularities in ballot counting, Austria’s highest court ordered a do-over of the country’s presidential runoff, which a far-right, euroskeptic candidate, Norbert Hofer, narrowly lost in May. It was the first time the country had ordered a rerun of a national election since 1945, when the Nazis were defeated. Mr. Hofer, if he wins, would be the first far-right politician elected head of state in Europe since World War II. |
| Also on Friday, Slovakia assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union, and its prime minister, Robert Fico, warned that the bloc’s leaders needed to pay more attention to national sovereignty. He urged “a balance, an equilibrium, between the member states and the European institutions,” so that “neither should dominate.” | Also on Friday, Slovakia assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union, and its prime minister, Robert Fico, warned that the bloc’s leaders needed to pay more attention to national sovereignty. He urged “a balance, an equilibrium, between the member states and the European institutions,” so that “neither should dominate.” |
| Mujtaba Rahman, the Europe director for the Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy, said that “the view power needs to be rebalanced toward capitals is absolutely on the table in light of the U.K.’s decision to leave the bloc.” | Mujtaba Rahman, the Europe director for the Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy, said that “the view power needs to be rebalanced toward capitals is absolutely on the table in light of the U.K.’s decision to leave the bloc.” |
| He added, “There’s a tremendous desire from all over Europe to win back autonomy and sovereignty from Brussels that is motivated by how out of touch the E.U. has become with the everyday fears and concerns of its citizens.” | He added, “There’s a tremendous desire from all over Europe to win back autonomy and sovereignty from Brussels that is motivated by how out of touch the E.U. has become with the everyday fears and concerns of its citizens.” |
| The European Union “could very well become a theme in the coming campaign,” said Hans Rauscher, a columnist for the liberal Austrian newspaper Der Standard. | The European Union “could very well become a theme in the coming campaign,” said Hans Rauscher, a columnist for the liberal Austrian newspaper Der Standard. |
| The two candidates’ stances on Europe could not be more different: Mr. Hofer, a 45-year-old nationalist who has advocated for the rights of disabled people since he was injured in a paragliding accident, and Alexander Van der Bellen, a 72-year-old former leader of the Green party who supports a border-free “United States of Europe.” | The two candidates’ stances on Europe could not be more different: Mr. Hofer, a 45-year-old nationalist who has advocated for the rights of disabled people since he was injured in a paragliding accident, and Alexander Van der Bellen, a 72-year-old former leader of the Green party who supports a border-free “United States of Europe.” |
| Elected to Parliament in 2006, Mr. Hofer has galvanized voters disillusioned with the two mainstream parties that have governed Austria continually — and often in coalition — since the 1950s. | Elected to Parliament in 2006, Mr. Hofer has galvanized voters disillusioned with the two mainstream parties that have governed Austria continually — and often in coalition — since the 1950s. |
| Despite that moderate image, footage surfaced during the campaign showing Mr. Hofer speaking, for instance, to rallies calling for the reunion of South Tyrol, a region of northern Italy, with the Austrian province of Tyrol. Such demands have long been the preserve of conservative nationalists — and considered far from mainstream. But Russia’s disregard for the post-1945 borders of Europe, as evidenced by its 2014 annexation of Crimea, has also had a ripple effect on nationalist and separatist groups throughout Europe. | Despite that moderate image, footage surfaced during the campaign showing Mr. Hofer speaking, for instance, to rallies calling for the reunion of South Tyrol, a region of northern Italy, with the Austrian province of Tyrol. Such demands have long been the preserve of conservative nationalists — and considered far from mainstream. But Russia’s disregard for the post-1945 borders of Europe, as evidenced by its 2014 annexation of Crimea, has also had a ripple effect on nationalist and separatist groups throughout Europe. |
| While the presidency is a largely ceremonial post in Austria and does not control government policy, it has great symbolic value, and Mr. Hofer has argued for a more active role in shaping politics. | While the presidency is a largely ceremonial post in Austria and does not control government policy, it has great symbolic value, and Mr. Hofer has argued for a more active role in shaping politics. |
| Mr. Hofer was the front-runner in the first round of the presidential election, on April 24, when the two mainstream parties were humiliated, both failing to make it to the runoff. Chancellor Werner Faymann , a Social Democrat, resigned as a result, and Christian Kern, a reform-minded Social Democrat, took over as head of government. | Mr. Hofer was the front-runner in the first round of the presidential election, on April 24, when the two mainstream parties were humiliated, both failing to make it to the runoff. Chancellor Werner Faymann , a Social Democrat, resigned as a result, and Christian Kern, a reform-minded Social Democrat, took over as head of government. |
| When polls closed in the May 22 runoff, Mr. Hofer was leading, but a final count that included about 700,000 postal ballots put Mr. Van der Bellen ahead by roughly 31,000 votes. The leader of Mr. Hofer’s anti-immigration Freedom Party, Heinz-Christian Strache, filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court about irregularities in 94 of 117 electoral districts. | When polls closed in the May 22 runoff, Mr. Hofer was leading, but a final count that included about 700,000 postal ballots put Mr. Van der Bellen ahead by roughly 31,000 votes. The leader of Mr. Hofer’s anti-immigration Freedom Party, Heinz-Christian Strache, filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court about irregularities in 94 of 117 electoral districts. |
| The chairman of the Constitutional Court, Gerhart Holzinger, announced on Friday that “the runoff must be repeated in all of Austria,” and said the decision was guided solely by the court’s mission to protect the rule of law and democracy. | The chairman of the Constitutional Court, Gerhart Holzinger, announced on Friday that “the runoff must be repeated in all of Austria,” and said the decision was guided solely by the court’s mission to protect the rule of law and democracy. |
| The 14 judges on the court heard testimony from about 90 witnesses. They described procedural mistakes: The counting of some postal ballots began on May 22, instead of the following morning, as the law stipulates, and in other cases, absentee ballots were counted before all the necessary election officials were present. | The 14 judges on the court heard testimony from about 90 witnesses. They described procedural mistakes: The counting of some postal ballots began on May 22, instead of the following morning, as the law stipulates, and in other cases, absentee ballots were counted before all the necessary election officials were present. |
| Outside of big cities like Vienna and Graz — which voted for Mr. Van der Bellen — Austria, a country of about 8.4 million, is largely rural and mountainous, dotted with small electoral wards that voted heavily for Mr. Hofer. | Outside of big cities like Vienna and Graz — which voted for Mr. Van der Bellen — Austria, a country of about 8.4 million, is largely rural and mountainous, dotted with small electoral wards that voted heavily for Mr. Hofer. |
| The term of Austria’s incumbent president, Heinz Fischer, expires this month. In the interim, the Constitution provides for joint leadership by three politicians from different political parties, one of whom is Mr. Hofer. | The term of Austria’s incumbent president, Heinz Fischer, expires this month. In the interim, the Constitution provides for joint leadership by three politicians from different political parties, one of whom is Mr. Hofer. |
| Along with promising to hold Austria’s government more accountable, Mr. Hofer and his party campaigned heavily on the migrant issue. Most of the more than one million migrants who reached Germany last year did so on land routes that took them through Austria. More than 90,000 migrants decided to apply for asylum in Austria — a similar number as in Germany, which has 10 times Austria’s population. | Along with promising to hold Austria’s government more accountable, Mr. Hofer and his party campaigned heavily on the migrant issue. Most of the more than one million migrants who reached Germany last year did so on land routes that took them through Austria. More than 90,000 migrants decided to apply for asylum in Austria — a similar number as in Germany, which has 10 times Austria’s population. |
| Britain’s June 23 referendum — in which immigration was a central issue — was the first time a country had decided to quit the European Union, and it bolstered euroskeptic parties across the Continent, from France and the Netherlands to Italy and Germany. | Britain’s June 23 referendum — in which immigration was a central issue — was the first time a country had decided to quit the European Union, and it bolstered euroskeptic parties across the Continent, from France and the Netherlands to Italy and Germany. |
| After the British referendum, Mr. Hofer said he favored holding a similar referendum in Austria if Brussels failed to halt new efforts at centralizing power in Brussels. Last Sunday, he told the newspaper Österreich that if the European Union “evolves in the wrong direction, then for me the time would have come to say: So, now we have to ask the Austrians.” | After the British referendum, Mr. Hofer said he favored holding a similar referendum in Austria if Brussels failed to halt new efforts at centralizing power in Brussels. Last Sunday, he told the newspaper Österreich that if the European Union “evolves in the wrong direction, then for me the time would have come to say: So, now we have to ask the Austrians.” |
| In 1994, 67 percent of Austrians voted in a referendum to join the European Union and recent polls suggest that a clear majority supports continued membership, said Mr. Rauscher, the newspaper columnist. | In 1994, 67 percent of Austrians voted in a referendum to join the European Union and recent polls suggest that a clear majority supports continued membership, said Mr. Rauscher, the newspaper columnist. |
| Any new referendum would have to be approved by Parliament, but the Freedom Party could initiate a grass-roots appeal for a referendum like the one in Britain. “Parliament could ignore that,” Mr. Rauscher wrote in an email, “but that would be a good propaganda tool for the Freedom Party.” | Any new referendum would have to be approved by Parliament, but the Freedom Party could initiate a grass-roots appeal for a referendum like the one in Britain. “Parliament could ignore that,” Mr. Rauscher wrote in an email, “but that would be a good propaganda tool for the Freedom Party.” |
| Unlike younger far-right movements like the Alternative for Germany, the Freedom Party has existed since the 1950s, when it was founded by former Nazis and nationalists. The party has exerted influence in national politics in Austria since the late 1980s, when Jörg Haider, a politician with a populist touch, took over. He was killed in a car crash in 2008. | Unlike younger far-right movements like the Alternative for Germany, the Freedom Party has existed since the 1950s, when it was founded by former Nazis and nationalists. The party has exerted influence in national politics in Austria since the late 1980s, when Jörg Haider, a politician with a populist touch, took over. He was killed in a car crash in 2008. |
| The last time the world gave so much attention to the election of an Austrian president was in 1986, when the country defied international fears and elected Kurt Waldheim, a former United Nations secretary general, as president, despite revelations that he had served in the Wehrmacht close to the site of Nazi atrocities in the Balkans. | The last time the world gave so much attention to the election of an Austrian president was in 1986, when the country defied international fears and elected Kurt Waldheim, a former United Nations secretary general, as president, despite revelations that he had served in the Wehrmacht close to the site of Nazi atrocities in the Balkans. |
| On Friday, Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, met with Slovakia’s prime minister, Mr. Fico, who has indicated that the member states — not Brussels officials — must set the strategic direction of the European Union. | On Friday, Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, met with Slovakia’s prime minister, Mr. Fico, who has indicated that the member states — not Brussels officials — must set the strategic direction of the European Union. |
| “National parliaments have to be heard,” the governments of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which meet in a bloc known as the Visegrad Group, said in a statement this week. | “National parliaments have to be heard,” the governments of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which meet in a bloc known as the Visegrad Group, said in a statement this week. |
| Mr. Fico has criticized the European Union’s leadership for mishandling a migration crisis, for giving France and Germany too much influence, and for doing too much of its business in Brussels. On Friday at a news conference with Mr. Juncker, however, he took a milder tone, saying that while “migration can be a divisive subject,” Slovakia wishes to create a “scope for discussion.” | Mr. Fico has criticized the European Union’s leadership for mishandling a migration crisis, for giving France and Germany too much influence, and for doing too much of its business in Brussels. On Friday at a news conference with Mr. Juncker, however, he took a milder tone, saying that while “migration can be a divisive subject,” Slovakia wishes to create a “scope for discussion.” |
| Slovakia’s foreign minister, Miroslav Lajcak, said this week that he would “support any measure” to keep Britain in the bloc, becoming one of the few European officials to raise the possibility of additional concessions. | |
| The prospects for Britain’s staying in the European Union seemed increasingly remote on Friday, even as the nation paused to observe the centenary of the start of the Battle of the Somme, an epochal moment from the two world wars that nearly destroyed European civilization. | The prospects for Britain’s staying in the European Union seemed increasingly remote on Friday, even as the nation paused to observe the centenary of the start of the Battle of the Somme, an epochal moment from the two world wars that nearly destroyed European civilization. |
| In many respects, tiny Slovakia is a major champion of the European project. Brussels has provided huge amounts of aid funding to develop its infrastructure, and Slovakia is a member of both the eurozone and the passport-free Schengen area. | In many respects, tiny Slovakia is a major champion of the European project. Brussels has provided huge amounts of aid funding to develop its infrastructure, and Slovakia is a member of both the eurozone and the passport-free Schengen area. |
| But some of the policies from Brussels have outraged Slovaks, and Mr. Fico in particular. | But some of the policies from Brussels have outraged Slovaks, and Mr. Fico in particular. |
| Mr. Fico has said that his country will accept only Christian refugees, and that forcing a country with little history of Muslim immigration to take in Muslim refugees would amount to “false solidarity.” Slovakia is suing at the Court of Justice of the European Union to block a system devised by the European Commission that could require it to take a quota of migrants from the Middle East and Africa. | Mr. Fico has said that his country will accept only Christian refugees, and that forcing a country with little history of Muslim immigration to take in Muslim refugees would amount to “false solidarity.” Slovakia is suing at the Court of Justice of the European Union to block a system devised by the European Commission that could require it to take a quota of migrants from the Middle East and Africa. |
| Mr. Juncker promised to cut down on red tape in Brussels, but said the European Union could not compromise on bedrock principles like freedom of movement. | Mr. Juncker promised to cut down on red tape in Brussels, but said the European Union could not compromise on bedrock principles like freedom of movement. |
| “There was one major issue, the freedom of movement of workers, and I will not change that because this is a basic freedom of the European Union,” Mr. Juncker said. | “There was one major issue, the freedom of movement of workers, and I will not change that because this is a basic freedom of the European Union,” Mr. Juncker said. |