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/7641441.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Austria's right hails poll result | Austria's right hails poll result |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The leaders of Austria's two far-right parties have hailed the results of snap general elections, which saw their support doubling since the 2006 polls. | The leaders of Austria's two far-right parties have hailed the results of snap general elections, which saw their support doubling since the 2006 polls. |
| The Freedom Party and the Alliance for the Future of Austria took nearly 29% of the vote, preliminary results show. | The Freedom Party and the Alliance for the Future of Austria took nearly 29% of the vote, preliminary results show. |
| The Social Democrats won the polls with 30%. But they, and the conservative People's Party, with 26%, suffered their worst results since 1945. | The Social Democrats won the polls with 30%. But they, and the conservative People's Party, with 26%, suffered their worst results since 1945. |
| The shape of a possible coalition will now be hard to predict, experts say. | The shape of a possible coalition will now be hard to predict, experts say. |
| A total of 183 parliamentary seats were up for grabs in Sunday's election. | A total of 183 parliamentary seats were up for grabs in Sunday's election. |
| The early polls were called after the grand coalition between the Social Democrats and the People's Party collapsed this summer amid internal fights and personal feuds. | The early polls were called after the grand coalition between the Social Democrats and the People's Party collapsed this summer amid internal fights and personal feuds. |
| 'Difficult situation' | 'Difficult situation' |
| "Today, we are the winners of election night," Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache said. | "Today, we are the winners of election night," Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache said. |
| Mr Strache also suggested that he was interested in becoming the next chancellor, according to the Associated Press news agency. | Mr Strache also suggested that he was interested in becoming the next chancellor, according to the Associated Press news agency. |
| Advertisement | |
| Leader of the Freedom Party Heinz-Christian Strache celebrates its gains | |
| Joerg Haider, the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Austria, told the BBC that both the Social Democrats and the People's Party were now in "a difficult situation", predicting that any coalition talks between them would fail. | Joerg Haider, the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Austria, told the BBC that both the Social Democrats and the People's Party were now in "a difficult situation", predicting that any coalition talks between them would fail. |
| "Therefore I think after some talks between these two parties, we will have the opportunity to negotiate the new government." | "Therefore I think after some talks between these two parties, we will have the opportunity to negotiate the new government." |
| The Freedom Party had won 18.01% of the vote, Interior Minister Maria Fekter said. | The Freedom Party had won 18.01% of the vote, Interior Minister Maria Fekter said. |
| The Alliance for the Future of Austria - which split from Mr Sprache's party in 2005 - had 10.98%. | The Alliance for the Future of Austria - which split from Mr Sprache's party in 2005 - had 10.98%. |
| PRELIMINARY FINAL RESULTS Including projected seats Social Democrats - 29.7% (58 seats)People's Party - 25.6% (50 seats)Freedom Party - 18% (35 seats)Alliance for Austria's Future - 11% (21 seats)Greens - 9.8% (19 seats)Other parties - 5.8% Source: Austrian Interior Ministry 'Angry' voters aid right | |
| The rise in support for the far-right parties is the result of protest votes on a variety of issues, the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna says. | The rise in support for the far-right parties is the result of protest votes on a variety of issues, the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna says. |
| The resurgent far-right can be attributed to a mixture of anti-European Union sentiment, some anti-immigrant positions and a general sense of discontent with the two traditional centrist parties, our correspondent says. | The resurgent far-right can be attributed to a mixture of anti-European Union sentiment, some anti-immigrant positions and a general sense of discontent with the two traditional centrist parties, our correspondent says. |
| The far-right showing was even stronger than in 1999, when the Freedom Party won 27% and gained a place in the coalition government with the conservatives. | The far-right showing was even stronger than in 1999, when the Freedom Party won 27% and gained a place in the coalition government with the conservatives. |
| The nationalists could now re-enter government but only after all other options are exhausted, analysts say. | The nationalists could now re-enter government but only after all other options are exhausted, analysts say. |
| 'Worst result' | 'Worst result' |
| The most obvious solution would be another grand coalition between the Social Democrats and the People's Party - an option most Austrians oppose, our correspondent says. | The most obvious solution would be another grand coalition between the Social Democrats and the People's Party - an option most Austrians oppose, our correspondent says. |
| AUSTRIA FACTS Population: 8.3mElectorate: 6.3m16- and 17-year-old voters: 200,000National Council seats: 183 | AUSTRIA FACTS Population: 8.3mElectorate: 6.3m16- and 17-year-old voters: 200,000National Council seats: 183 |
| Social Democrat leader Werner Faymann on Sunday reiterated that he would not be joining forces with either of the two far-right parties. | Social Democrat leader Werner Faymann on Sunday reiterated that he would not be joining forces with either of the two far-right parties. |
| Wilhelm Molterer, who heads the People's Party, has so far made no public comments on his possible coalition allies. | Wilhelm Molterer, who heads the People's Party, has so far made no public comments on his possible coalition allies. |
| But referring to Sunday's polls, he said: "This is the worst result in the history of Austria's People's Party." | But referring to Sunday's polls, he said: "This is the worst result in the history of Austria's People's Party." |
| Final results will not be released until 6 October after absentee and postal ballots, making up about 10% of the votes, are counted. | Final results will not be released until 6 October after absentee and postal ballots, making up about 10% of the votes, are counted. |
/> | 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. /> |
| Did you vote in the Austrian elections? What is your reaction to the results? Were you a first-time voter? Send us your comments using the form below. | Did you vote in the Austrian elections? What is your reaction to the results? Were you a first-time voter? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |