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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Austrians vote in early election | Austrians vote in early election |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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 suggest the right wing Freedom Party and Alliance for the Future of Austria are set to benefit. | Polls suggest the right wing Freedom Party and Alliance for the Future of Austria are set to benefit. |
| For the first 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. | Around 200,000 young people are eligible to cast their votes, in an electorate of just over 6.3 million. |
| Elections were last held in October 2006. It took a further six months for the government to form a cabinet. | |
| The leader of the People's Party, Wilhelm Molterer, said the vote was going to be close but that he was optimistic. | |
| Coalition building | Coalition building |
| The centre-right People's Party and the centre-left 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 voters appear disenchanted with the two parties, says the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna. | But voters appear disenchanted with the two parties, says the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna. |
| The latest opinion polls put the Social Democrats in the lead, followed by the conservative People's Party. | 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 | 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%. | 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%. | 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. | 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. | The move sparked outrage across Europe and for several months Austria was placed under EU sanctions. |
| Mr Strache told reporters he was hoping to get more than 15% of the vote and to come third, "clearly ahead of the Greens." | |
| Meanwhile, Green party leader Alexander van der Bellen said it was unlikely that his own party would come third, but that winning a bigger share of the votes will enable the party to "provide a counterweight" to the ruling coalition. | |
| Mr van der Bellen said the two parties had "neglected their leadership duties in the last few year". | |
| Postal votes | |
| In this election, 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. |
| Most polling stations in all nine provinces opened at 0700 (0500 GMT), and close at 1700 (1500 GMT). | 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 but the official results may not be known until absentee and postal ballots, making up about 10% of the votes, are counted. |