Austrian election: Far-right leader concedes defeat
Pro-European candidate Alexander Van der Bellen becomes president as Norbert Hofer only wins 46.7 per cent of vote
Austrian voters have rejected far-right candidate Norbert Hofer to be their next president, instead choosing Alexander Van der Bellen, the pro-European independent candidate backed by the Greens.
Hofer, who was seeking to become the first far-right leader in Europe since World War II, polled 46.7 per cent to his rival's 53.3 per cent.
Voters "resoundingly rejected anti-immigration and Eurosceptic" Hofer, in what has been an "ugly and polarising election in normally peaceable Austria", says the Daily Telegraph.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Conceding defeat less than half an hour after the first exit poll results were published, the politician described himself as "endlessly sad".
"I congratulate Alexander Van der Bellen for his success and ask all Austrians to pull together and work together," he said.
Van der Bellen said: "I will try to be an open-minded, a liberal-minded and first of all a pro-European federal president of the Republic of Austria."
His win was particularly resounding in urban areas, with all 23 of Vienna's districts rejecting Hofer's populist platform. He also had greater support from female voters than male.
Despite the office of president being "largely ceremonial", the poll "had been seen as a sign of how well populist candidates might do elsewhere in Europe", the BBC says.
The ballot was a rerun of the May 2015 vote, which Van der Bellen won with just 50.35 per cent. That election was "marred by postal vote irregularities", says the BBC, forcing it to be staged again.
Infographic by www.statista.com for TheWeek.co.uk.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Netanyahu's Rafah attack vow snarls truce deal
Speed Read Hours before the truce deal was to be finalized, Netanyahu said Israel will invade Rafah regardless
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - May 1, 2024
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - beware of governor, biting debates, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Democrats defang GOP speaker ouster threat
Speed Read Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said she will force a vote to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Russia gains as Ukraine awaits US aid
Speed Read Ukrainian forces have retreated from several villages as the situation at the front line worsens
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Haiti interim council, prime minister sworn in
Speed Read Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns amid surging gang violence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Myanmar: the Spring Revolution and the downfall of the generals
Talking Point An armed protest movement has swept across the country since the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown in 2021
By The Week Staff Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is there a peaceful way forward for Israel and Iran?
Today's Big Question Tehran has initially sought to downplay the latest Israeli missile strike on its territory
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How powerful is Iran?
Today's big question Islamic republic is facing domestic dissent and 'economic peril' but has a vast military, dangerous allies and a nuclear threat
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US, Israel brace for Iran retaliatory strikes
Speed Read An Iranian attack on Israel is believed to be imminent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published