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Austrians vote in early election Far right 'gains in Austria vote'
(about 2 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. Austria's Social Democrats look set to win the most votes in an early election but far right parties have made significant gains, projections show.
The elections were called after a coalition between the Social Democrats and the conservative People's Party fell apart after just 18 months. Preliminary estimates as polls closed at 1500 GMT showed the far right Freedom Party with 18% of the vote.
Polls suggest the right wing Freedom Party and Alliance for the Future of Austria are set to benefit. The Social Democrats led with 29%, while the conservative People's Party were at 25%.
For the first time in a EU country, 16 and 17-year-olds will be able to vote. The elections were called after an 18-month-old Social Democrat coalition with the People's Party collapsed.
Around 200,000 young people are eligible to cast their votes, in an electorate of just over 6.3 million. Polling samples conducted for Austrian TV suggested the far right party, the Alliance for Austria's Future, also did well, winning 12% of the vote, with the Greens taking 10.5%.
For the first time in an EU country, 16 and 17-year-olds were able to vote. This bloc represented about 200,000 of the 6.3 million-strong electorate.
Elections were last held in October 2006. It took a further six months for the government to form a cabinet.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. The leader of the People's Party, Wilhelm Molterer, earlier predicted a close vote but said he was optimistic.
Coalition buildingCoalition 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 battled for first place.
But voters appear disenchanted with the two parties, says the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna. But voters seemed 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.
AUSTRIA FACTS Population: 8.3mElectorate: 6.3mOver 16-year-old voters: 200,000National Council seats: 183 Rebounding Austrian rightCountry profile: AustriaAUSTRIA 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%. If the early projections hold, the far right will be celebrating its strongest showing in Austria since 2000, when the Freedom Party won 28% and gained a place in the coalition government with the conservatives.
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 development sparked outrage across Europe and for several months Austria was placed under EU sanctions.
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. Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache said he was hoping to win more than 15% of the vote and to come third, "clearly ahead of the Greens."
The move sparked outrage across Europe and for several months Austria was placed under EU sanctions. 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 would enable the party to "provide a counterweight" to the ruling coalition.
Mr Strache told reporters he was hoping to get more than 15% of the vote and to come third, "clearly ahead of the Greens." Mr van der Bellen said the two parties had "neglected their leadership duties in the last few years".
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 votesPostal votes
In this election, the shape of any future governing coalition is hard to predict, says our Vienna correspondent.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). While early exit polls came shortly after polls closed, official results may not be known until absentee and postal ballots, making up about 10% of the votes, are counted.
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.