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Austria's presidential vote kicks off amid refugee concerns

Xinhua, April 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Austria's presidential elections kicked off on Sunday as both candidates from the mainstream parties are under huge pressure due to migration concerns.

The latest poll showed that the leading runner are Norbert Hofer of the far-right anti-migrant Freedom Party and Alexander van der Bellen, backed by the Green party.

Since 1945, the Social Democrats and the center-right People's Party have dominated the Austrian government. The incumbent Austrian chancellor and president are both from the Social Democrats.

No candidate is expected to get a majority Sunday. But according to the poll, neither the candidate of the Social Democrats nor the candidate of the People's Party could make it into a run-off on May 22.

According to a latest survey from market research institute IMASA, 72 percent of the Austrians agreed with the stricter stance their government has adopted over the asylum crisis, calling for the closure of the Balkans migrant route as well as increased border controls. Endi