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3rd LD Writethru: Austrian presidential run-off too close to call

Xinhua, May 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

Austria's presidential election is becoming unprecedentedly intense on Sunday, both the right wing candidate and his rival, former head of the green party, got 50 percent of the votes, showing a dead heat in the run-off, the latest official poll shows.

The vote counting are almost finished in many cities, but many of the mail votes have not been counted yet.

However, no matter who is becoming the president of the state, this will be the first time since the Second World War that an Austrian president has not been backed by main stream ruling parties. If the right wing party won the election, it could be a new wave of the rise of rightism in Europe, which could change the political map of Austria or even Europe.

Norbert Hofer, the youngest candidate of the election from the right wing Freedom Party of Austria (FPO), the leading runner in the first round of election, is fighting with his rival Alexander Van der Bellen, the former chief of green party, an independent candidate but backed by the Green Party. Van der Bellen is also a Russian descendant, growing up in Austria.

Hofer could be the first right wing president after the war of second Austrian Republic if he defeats Van der Bellen in the vote.

Austria president is seen more or less as a ceremonial role of the country but could swear the chancellor and even dismiss the cabinet, the most significant clout which hasn't been used by presidents after the war.

Hofer said he needs Austrians and would work for them, threatening to dismiss the parliament when necessary.

Hofer servers as an aeronautical engineer, and then became a politician and the third president of Austria's National Council from 2013.

Some Austrian media said the Eurosceptic, anti-immigration FPO is supported mostly in the country and by the relatively low educated groups. But in the big city, where many migrants live, Van der Bellen might gain more supporters.

The presidential election's influence is already far beyond Austria, a small central European states with about 8.5 million population, but carefully monitored by other EU states, even by the world. Endit