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| Austria rejects far right in presidential election as Italy goes to polls – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 8.54pm GMT | |
| 20:54 | |
| In Italy, the Guardian’s southern Europe specialist John Hooper reckons that based on the high turnout figures, we should maybe not be dismissing prime minister Matteo Renzi’s chances of pulling off the second upset of the night too soon: | |
| Turnout data look good for #Renzi. His ppl reckon they can win w/ 60%+. Already at 1900 local, 54%. And polls don't close till 2300 | |
| 8.43pm GMT | |
| 20:43 | |
| France's Hollande: a win for European unity and tolerance | |
| Following politicians in neighbouring Germany, France’s Socialist president François Hollande has said Van der Bellen’s win over the far-right’s Hofer in Austria’s presidential election represents a vote for European unity and tolerance. | |
| François Hollande remercie l’Autriche d’avoir « fait le choix de l’Europe et de l’ouverture » https://t.co/O38ENOaCAj | |
| Hollande, who announced last week that he would not be seeking a second mandate in France’s presidential polls next year, said he “warmly congratulates Alexander Van der Bellen for the clear and uncontested result”, adding that the Austrian people had “made the choice for Europe, and openness.” | |
| Marine Le Pen of France’s far-right Front National, who is widely expected to make it through to the run-off round of the presidential election in May, sent her congratulations to Hofer, saying he had fought courageously and predicting his Freedom party would win next year’s parliamentary election in Austria: | |
| Félicitations au FPÖ qui s'est battu avec courage. Les prochaines législatives seront celles de leur victoire ! MLP | |
| Updated | |
| at 8.50pm GMT | |
| 7.58pm GMT | 7.58pm GMT |
| 19:58 | 19:58 |
| Alexander Van der Bellen has been holding a press conference in Vienna and the Guardian’s Philip Oltermann was there. | Alexander Van der Bellen has been holding a press conference in Vienna and the Guardian’s Philip Oltermann was there. |
| The newly elected head of state said he would be an “open-minded, liberal-minded, and above all a pro-European president”, adding that his triumph over Norbert Hofer of the far-right Freedom party sent a “message to the capitals of the EU that one can win elections with high European positions.” | The newly elected head of state said he would be an “open-minded, liberal-minded, and above all a pro-European president”, adding that his triumph over Norbert Hofer of the far-right Freedom party sent a “message to the capitals of the EU that one can win elections with high European positions.” |
| The defeated Hofer said his loss was “really very painful ... but the voter is always right in a democracy.” He also criticised an intervention by Nigel Farage, the former Ukip leader, as having contributed to the party’s defeat. | The defeated Hofer said his loss was “really very painful ... but the voter is always right in a democracy.” He also criticised an intervention by Nigel Farage, the former Ukip leader, as having contributed to the party’s defeat. |
| Farage said on Fox News on Friday that Hofer would hold a referendum on Austria leaving the European Union. | Farage said on Fox News on Friday that Hofer would hold a referendum on Austria leaving the European Union. |
| Pointing out that an overwhelming majority of Austrians support EU membership, Hofer described the Ukip figurehead’s comments as “a crass misjudgement”, adding: “It doesn’t fill me with joy when someone meddles from outside.” | Pointing out that an overwhelming majority of Austrians support EU membership, Hofer described the Ukip figurehead’s comments as “a crass misjudgement”, adding: “It doesn’t fill me with joy when someone meddles from outside.” |
| 7.33pm GMT | 7.33pm GMT |
| 19:33 | 19:33 |
| Alexander Van der Bellen: who is Austria's new president? | Alexander Van der Bellen: who is Austria's new president? |
| So who is the new Austrian president? Alexander Van der Bellen is a tall, austere 72-year-old retired economics professor, a Green MP for 18 years before leaving parliament in 2012 to become a popular Vienna city councillor. | So who is the new Austrian president? Alexander Van der Bellen is a tall, austere 72-year-old retired economics professor, a Green MP for 18 years before leaving parliament in 2012 to become a popular Vienna city councillor. |
| Van der Bellen’s father was born in Russia to a family descended from Dutch immigrants. His mother was born in Estonia, from where both fled when the Red Army invaded in 1940, moving first to Germany and eventually settling in Austria. | Van der Bellen’s father was born in Russia to a family descended from Dutch immigrants. His mother was born in Estonia, from where both fled when the Red Army invaded in 1940, moving first to Germany and eventually settling in Austria. |
| Viewed by many conservatives as too leftwing, and by more militant Greens as not radical enough, Van der Bellen spent the early part of his political career in the Social Democrats. | Viewed by many conservatives as too leftwing, and by more militant Greens as not radical enough, Van der Bellen spent the early part of his political career in the Social Democrats. |
| He campaigned on an unashamedly pro-European platform, arguing that Austria’s economic growth depended on it and saying this evening: | He campaigned on an unashamedly pro-European platform, arguing that Austria’s economic growth depended on it and saying this evening: |
| From the beginning, I fought and argued for a pro-European Austria. I would think it a big mistake to promote the drifting apart of the EU. | From the beginning, I fought and argued for a pro-European Austria. I would think it a big mistake to promote the drifting apart of the EU. |
| Known as Sascha in reference to his Russian roots, Van der Bellen led the Greens from 1997 to 2008, turning the party into the country’s fourth biggest political force and stepping down only after elections in which it lost votes for the first time in a decade. | Known as Sascha in reference to his Russian roots, Van der Bellen led the Greens from 1997 to 2008, turning the party into the country’s fourth biggest political force and stepping down only after elections in which it lost votes for the first time in a decade. |
| A heavy smoker – “I once quit for four months … but why should I torture myself at my age?” – and outspoken supporter of gay marriage, he is divorced and recently remarried. He lists American crime novels, 19th-century Russian literature and Donald Duck cartoons among his interests. | A heavy smoker – “I once quit for four months … but why should I torture myself at my age?” – and outspoken supporter of gay marriage, he is divorced and recently remarried. He lists American crime novels, 19th-century Russian literature and Donald Duck cartoons among his interests. |
| 7.13pm GMT | 7.13pm GMT |
| 19:13 | 19:13 |
| The Guardian’s Angela Giuffrida has been talking to voters in Italy’s constitutional reform referendum. She spoke first to Alessandra Castelli, who has lived in London for more than 10 years and may be one of the millions of Italian voters abroad to whom prime minister Matteo Renzi is looking to for salvation: | The Guardian’s Angela Giuffrida has been talking to voters in Italy’s constitutional reform referendum. She spoke first to Alessandra Castelli, who has lived in London for more than 10 years and may be one of the millions of Italian voters abroad to whom prime minister Matteo Renzi is looking to for salvation: |
| This is an occasion to really change Italy. Most of the people voting No are the ones wanting to keep the the current government out. They don’t care if it takes ages to approve a legislation, they just want Renzi out. But this is ridiculous , in a country where for 70 years we had 63 governments, and where at the G7 we always have to send a different prime minister. | This is an occasion to really change Italy. Most of the people voting No are the ones wanting to keep the the current government out. They don’t care if it takes ages to approve a legislation, they just want Renzi out. But this is ridiculous , in a country where for 70 years we had 63 governments, and where at the G7 we always have to send a different prime minister. |
| Those who have to actually endure Italy’s stagnating economy, however, beg to differ. In Orvieto, 36-year-old chef and restaurant owner Valentina Santanicchio said: | Those who have to actually endure Italy’s stagnating economy, however, beg to differ. In Orvieto, 36-year-old chef and restaurant owner Valentina Santanicchio said: |
| It’s fine for those living a nice life in Berlin or London looking towards Italy and saying ‘it needs to change’ - we’re the ones who have to live through the misery here. It’s not that I don’t think we need a change in the constitution, but there are other priorities, the main one being jobs. Italy has so much potential, but it’s wasted. I’m nervous about the potential instability, but this is a government we didn’t elect. | It’s fine for those living a nice life in Berlin or London looking towards Italy and saying ‘it needs to change’ - we’re the ones who have to live through the misery here. It’s not that I don’t think we need a change in the constitution, but there are other priorities, the main one being jobs. Italy has so much potential, but it’s wasted. I’m nervous about the potential instability, but this is a government we didn’t elect. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.16pm GMT | at 7.16pm GMT |
| 6.59pm GMT | 6.59pm GMT |
| 18:59 | 18:59 |
| Van der Bellen hails win for “freedom, equality, solidarity” | Van der Bellen hails win for “freedom, equality, solidarity” |
| The victorious Austrian independent presidential candidate, Alexander Van der Bellen, said his unexpectedly comfortable projected win over the right-wing populist Norbert Hofer showed voters supported his message of “freedom, equality, solidarity”. | The victorious Austrian independent presidential candidate, Alexander Van der Bellen, said his unexpectedly comfortable projected win over the right-wing populist Norbert Hofer showed voters supported his message of “freedom, equality, solidarity”. |
| Van der Bellen, a former economics professor and left-leaning one-time leader of the Green party, said he would work to unite a country that was deeply split between the moderate liberals who voted for him and those who backed instead Hofer’s Eurosceptic, anti-immigrant Freedom Party. | Van der Bellen, a former economics professor and left-leaning one-time leader of the Green party, said he would work to unite a country that was deeply split between the moderate liberals who voted for him and those who backed instead Hofer’s Eurosceptic, anti-immigrant Freedom Party. |
| Final results will not be available until more than 500,000 absentee ballots are counted on Monday, the interior ministry said, but with most ballots cast on Sunday now counted, Van der Bellen appears to have an unassailable 53.3% of the vote. | Final results will not be available until more than 500,000 absentee ballots are counted on Monday, the interior ministry said, but with most ballots cast on Sunday now counted, Van der Bellen appears to have an unassailable 53.3% of the vote. |
| 6.51pm GMT | 6.51pm GMT |
| 18:51 | 18:51 |
| Back in Italy, Stephanie Kirchgaessner has an update on the turnout in the country’s crunch referendum on proposed constitutional reforms. The prime minister, Matteo Renzi, has promised to resign if he loses the plebiscite, prompting fears of possible political and eurozone uncertainty: | Back in Italy, Stephanie Kirchgaessner has an update on the turnout in the country’s crunch referendum on proposed constitutional reforms. The prime minister, Matteo Renzi, has promised to resign if he loses the plebiscite, prompting fears of possible political and eurozone uncertainty: |
| About 57% of Italian voters have cast their ballots in this referendum as of 7pm, a strong showing for a complicated question about the nation’s constitution. The high turnout numbers lend credence to the view that this vote has really touched a nerve in Italy, and is seen by some as a vote of confidence in prime minister Matteo Renzi. | About 57% of Italian voters have cast their ballots in this referendum as of 7pm, a strong showing for a complicated question about the nation’s constitution. The high turnout numbers lend credence to the view that this vote has really touched a nerve in Italy, and is seen by some as a vote of confidence in prime minister Matteo Renzi. |
| It looked initially like turnout figures in the south were going to be far lower than northern and central Italy, but it now seems they have caught up. It’s hard, though, to make too many sweeping assumptions about this – while some Renzi strongholds will encourage the prime minister, other cities that back the far-right Northern League, which opposes the reforms, have also come out in full force. | It looked initially like turnout figures in the south were going to be far lower than northern and central Italy, but it now seems they have caught up. It’s hard, though, to make too many sweeping assumptions about this – while some Renzi strongholds will encourage the prime minister, other cities that back the far-right Northern League, which opposes the reforms, have also come out in full force. |
| 6.44pm GMT | 6.44pm GMT |
| 18:44 | 18:44 |
| Austrian chancellor congratulates new president | Austrian chancellor congratulates new president |
| The Austrian federal chancellor, Social Democrat Christian Kern, has congratulated Van der Bellen for his victory over the far-right’s Norbert Hofer. | The Austrian federal chancellor, Social Democrat Christian Kern, has congratulated Van der Bellen for his victory over the far-right’s Norbert Hofer. |
| In a clear allusion to fears by mainstream politicians that a win for Hofer and his party’s anti-immigrant views would have harmed the country’s image abroad, Kern added that: | In a clear allusion to fears by mainstream politicians that a win for Hofer and his party’s anti-immigrant views would have harmed the country’s image abroad, Kern added that: |
| I am convinced that we will have a president with Van der Bellen who will represent Austria domestically and abroad in an excellent manner. | I am convinced that we will have a president with Van der Bellen who will represent Austria domestically and abroad in an excellent manner. |
| 6.37pm GMT | 6.37pm GMT |
| 18:37 | 18:37 |
| Martin Schulz, the German president of the European parliament, has congratulated Van der Bellen, saying he won Austria’s presidential election with “a clear pro-European message and campaign”, and describing the victory as: | Martin Schulz, the German president of the European parliament, has congratulated Van der Bellen, saying he won Austria’s presidential election with “a clear pro-European message and campaign”, and describing the victory as: |
| #vanderbellens victory is a heavy defeat of nationalism and anti-European, backward-looking populism #bpw16 2/2 | #vanderbellens victory is a heavy defeat of nationalism and anti-European, backward-looking populism #bpw16 2/2 |
| Partial results showed Van der Bellen with 53.3% and his far-right, anti-immigrant Freedom Party rival Norbert Hofer on 46.7%. | Partial results showed Van der Bellen with 53.3% and his far-right, anti-immigrant Freedom Party rival Norbert Hofer on 46.7%. |
| 6.31pm GMT | 6.31pm GMT |
| 18:31 | 18:31 |
| The Conference of European Rabbis, which represent more than 700 leaders of mainstream synagogues across the continent, is delighted with the defeat of the far-right candidate in Austria’s presidential election. | The Conference of European Rabbis, which represent more than 700 leaders of mainstream synagogues across the continent, is delighted with the defeat of the far-right candidate in Austria’s presidential election. |
| Austria has just passed a difficult test. Let’s hope that the results in Austria will strengthen political forces in Europe which are committed to combat racism, antisemitism and xenophobia. | Austria has just passed a difficult test. Let’s hope that the results in Austria will strengthen political forces in Europe which are committed to combat racism, antisemitism and xenophobia. |
| The Guardian published this article on Saturday on why the Jewish community was praying the Freedom party’s Norbert Hofer would fail to win the presidency. | The Guardian published this article on Saturday on why the Jewish community was praying the Freedom party’s Norbert Hofer would fail to win the presidency. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.51pm GMT | at 6.51pm GMT |