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3rd LD Writethru: Green party-backed candidate narrowly beats right-wing in Austrian presidential election

Xinhua, May 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Austrians rejected a possible right-wing president in the 2016 presidential election.

Alexander Van der Bellen, backed by the green party was elected to be the next president by a narrow margin, according to Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka's announcement on Monday.

In the neck-and-neck race, Van der Bellen got 50.3 percent of the ballot, only 31,026 votes more than Norbert Hofer's 49.7 percent votes. The intense breathtaking presidential election was closely followed in Austria and abroad.

Van der Bellen was born in Vienna in 1944. His grandfather was a politician who once lived in Russia but left the country with family to settle in Austria.

In 1976, he was appointed associate professor at the University of Innsbruck and then became professor of economics at the University of Vienna.

Van der Bellen started his career as a politician by joining the Social Democratic Party (SPO), but he switched to the green party, became its chief, then resigned after the September 2008 election.

In 2010, he became commissioner of the City of Vienna for Universities and Research.

Van der Bellen is the first environmental activist to become Austrian president, and will be the first president of the state since WWII not backed by mainstream political parties.

Austria's president is seen as a ceremonial role but swears in the chancellor and can dismiss the cabinet -- powers not been used by presidents since the world wars.

Meanwhile, Norbert Hofer, the youngest candidate of the election from the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria (FPO), conceded defeat.

Hofer said in his Facebook account: "I will remain loyal to you (the public) and make a contribution to a positive Austria. Please do not be discouraged, the use of this election campaign is not lost but an investment for the future."

Current Austrian President Heinz Fischer joined numerous domestic and international leaders and officials in congratulating his successor Alexander Van der Bellen.

Fischer said he is convinced the former Greens party leader will meet the challenges he will face in his new role.

"A main component of this will be to both unite and to represent all Austrians, particularly where differences of opinion are to be found," he said, adding he "absolutely" trusts Van der Bellen to be able to do.

Fischer invited Van der Bellen for talks on Tuesday. The official handing over of office between the two will take place on July 8. Endit