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Austrian president calls for return to "normality" following election

Xinhua, May 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

Outgoing Austrian President Heinz Fischer on Wednesday called for a return to normal following a closely contested presidential election to determine his successor.

Fischer made the comments at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, following a meeting with Norbert Hofer, candidate for the right-wing populist Freedom Party (FPOe) who narrowly lost to president-elect Alexander Van der Bellen.

The outgoing president did not respond directly to online allegations that electoral fraud or wrongdoing had taken place, nor to personal threats that individuals had made against Van der Bellen, but he called for a return to normal order.

"When the election is over, efforts are to be made to return to democratic normality," said Fischer, adding that different opinions must be exchanged "in a calm and level-headed way."

Hofer supported Fischer's view, saying that Austria is not a "divided country."

Fischer will hold office until the inauguration ceremony for Van der Bellen, which takes place on July 8. Endi