Austria: far-right candidate Norbert Ηofer concedes defeat - Green Alexander Van der Bellen takes clear lead

Independent candidate Alexander Van der Bellen is expected to win Austria’s presidential election. With just under 70 percent of the vote counted on Sunday, Van der Bellen is expected to carry the election with 53.3 percent of the vote. His far-right rival, Freedom Party candidate Norbert Hofer is expected to receive 46.7 percent of the vote. Writing to his supporters on Twitter, Hofer appears to concede the election to Van der Bellen.

After Brexit and Donald Trump, the populist was aiming to be the next figure to ride the anti-establishment wave as Austria once again holds a re-run of its presidential election.

The rest of Europe is watching closely and immediately after voting Hofer said: ‘‘The message to Europe is clear. I want to commit myself to changing this union in a positive way and I don’t want Austria to leave the European Union, that I have to say very clearly.’‘

But such statements are unlikely to ease nerves in Brussels and other major European capitals. The election is being seen as a barometer of the extent of populism across Europe, particularly with upcoming elections in France, the Netherlands and Germany.

The direction Austria might take was a point Hofer’s rival, Alexander Van der Bellen, highlighted after casting his vote.

“Outside of Austria this election is being perceived as something that doesn’t only affect us Austrians. Here in Austria we often have the feeling that we can do what we want. Of course, that’s what we do. But what happens here today has relevance for all of Europe.”

Campaigning on a pro-EU platform, and backed by the Green party, Alexander Van der Bellen described the presidential poll in May as a choice between “a co-operative and an authoritarian style.”

Norbert Hofer is according to some descriptions the “friendly face” of the far-right Freedom Party. The well-dressed, softly spoken, self proclaimed Margaret Thatcher fan has pushed traditional anti-immigration themes with a smile while using more moderate rhetoric than the party leader Heinz-Christian Strache.

Austria’s election originally took place in May. Hofer lost out to Van der Bellen in May, 2016, by 31,000 votes. The results of the original election were annulled after an investigation found vote-counting irregularities in several constituencies. More than 70,000 votes were found to have been affected by the irregularities, enough to swing the election result. Austria’s constitutional court ruled that the vote must be repeated across the entire country, giving Mr Hofen a second chance at the presidency. A re-run was planned for October 2, but was delayed again after problems with the glue used on ballot papers.

Euronews

Tonight, Austria has its new president. Van der Bellen’s victory is a heavy defeat of nationalism and anti-European, backward-looking populism.