Van der Bellen wins Austria election, blocking far-right candidate from presidency
Green Party-backed independent candidate Alexander Van der Bellen has been elected as Austria's president in a runoff election, blocking the Freedom Party's Norbert Hofer from becoming the European Union's first far-right leader.
Austria's presidential runoff election was too close to call on Sunday, with Hofer and Van der Bellen in a virtual tie. Yet even with Van der Bellen runoff victory, Hofner's anti-immigrant rhetoric — and resulting popularity — has struck some as being reminiscent of the mood in Austria before the rise of the Nazis.
Hofner has called the accusation "completely absurd" and "baseless," saying, "I am not a dangerous person."
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