Van der Bellen wins Austria election, blocking far-right candidate from presidency

(Image credit: ROLAND SCHLAGER/AFP/Getty Images)

published 23 May 2016

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.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.

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