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Far right 'gains in Austria vote' Far right gains in Austria vote
(about 3 hours later)
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. Austria's Social Democrats won the most votes in the country's early election but far right parties made significant gains, the interior ministry has said.
Preliminary estimates as polls closed at 1500 GMT showed the far right Freedom Party with 18% of the vote. Preliminary official results from Sunday's poll show Social Democrats with 29.7% of the vote.
The Social Democrats led with 29%, while the conservative People's Party were at 25%. But the country's two far right parties made large gains, winning a total vote share of 29% between them.
The elections were called after an 18-month-old Social Democrat coalition with the People's Party collapsed. The conservative People's Party, which was in a faltering coalition with the Social Democrats, won 25.6%.
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%. The interior minister, Maria Fekter, said the far right Freedom Party had won 18.01% percent of the vote and the Alliance for the Future of Austria had 10.98%.
The elections were called after Austria's 18-month-old coalition collapsed.
The BBC's Bethany Bell, in Vienna, described the far right gains as a "slap in the face" to the centrist parties.
Full official results will not be known until absentee and postal ballots, making up about 10% of the votes, are counted.
Outrage across Europe
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.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, earlier predicted a close vote but said he was optimistic.
Coalition building
The centre-right People's Party and the centre-left Social Democrats battled for first place.
But voters seemed disenchanted with the two parties, says the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna.
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
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 far right showing was its strongest showing in Austria since 2000, when the Freedom Party won 28% and gained a place in the coalition government with the conservatives.
That development sparked outrage across Europe and for several months Austria was placed under EU sanctions.That development sparked outrage across Europe and for several months Austria was placed under EU sanctions.
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." In this election, the shape of any future governing coalition is hard to predict, our correspondent said, before the vote.
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 van der Bellen said the two parties had "neglected their leadership duties in the last few years".
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 or the two other smaller parties.
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.