This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7639805.stm

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Austria set to vote in early poll Austrians vote in early election
(about 11 hours later)
Voters in Austria are set to go to the polls in an early general election that opinion polls suggest could result in a surge from the far right. Voters in Austria have gone to the polls in an early general election that opinion polls suggest could result in a surge from the far right.
The elections were called after a coalition between the Social Democrats and the conservative People's Party fell apart after just 18 months.The elections were called after a coalition between the Social Democrats and the conservative People's Party fell apart after just 18 months.
Polls hint that has opened the door for the Freedom Party and the Alliance for the Future of Austria to gain strength. Polls suggest the right wing Freedom Party and Alliance for the Future of Austria are set to benefit.
Voters appear disenchanted with the centre left and centre right. For the fist time in a EU country, 16 and 17-year-olds will be able to vote.
Around 200,000 young people are eligible to cast their votes, in an electorate of just over 6.3 million.
Coalition buildingCoalition building
The People's Party and the Social Democrats are battling for first place in Sunday's election. The centre-right People's Party and the centre-left Social Democrats are battling for first place in Sunday's election.
But opinion polls suggest the mood in the country could give a boost to Heinz-Christian Strache's Freedom Party and Joerg Haider's Alliance for the Future of Austria. But voters appear disenchanted with the two parties, says the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna.
However, the shape of any future governing coalition is hard to predict. The latest opinion polls put the Social Democrats in the lead, followed by the conservative People's Party.
AUSTRIA FACTS Population: 8.3mElectorate: 6.3mOver 16-year-old voters: 200,000National Council seats: 183 Rebounding Austrian rightCountry profile: Austria
However, it also suggested neither was expected to win more than 30%.
The polls also suggested the mood in the country could give a boost to Heinz-Christian Strache's Freedom Party, with a predicted 17-19%, and Joerg Haider's Alliance for the Future of Austria, with about 8%.
That would be the best result for the far right in Austria since 2000, when the Freedom Party, then led by Mr Haider, won 28% and gained a place in the coalition government with the conservatives.
The move sparked outrage across Europe and for several months Austria was placed under EU sanctions.
This time, the shape of any future governing coalition is hard to predict, says our Vienna correspondent.
Analysts say the far right could re-enter government but only after all other options are exhausted.Analysts say the far right could re-enter government but only after all other options are exhausted.
These include another grand coalition or pacts with the Greens and the two other smaller parties who are hoping to gain the 4% needed to enter parliament.These include another grand coalition or pacts with the Greens and the two other smaller parties who are hoping to gain the 4% needed to enter parliament.
For the first time in a European Union country, 16 and 17-year-olds are being allowed to vote in a general election. Around 200,000 young people are eligible to cast their votes. Most polling stations in all nine provinces opened at 0700 (0500 GMT), and close at 1700 (1500 GMT).
The first exit polls are expected shortly afterwards.