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Austrian Greens-backed presidential campaign distances itself from far-left demonstration

Xinhua, November 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

The team behind Greens party-backed Austrian presidential candidate Alexander Van der Bellen has distanced itself from a far-left demonstration planned on Saturday, the Krone newspaper reported.

The demonstration targeted against right-wing Freedom Party candidate Norbert Hofer is to take place in the Museumsquartier area in the centre of capital city Vienna, just a day before the election.

Campaign coordinator for Van der Bellen, Lothar Lockl, said Tuesday that his team, in using a non-partisan campaign, would opt against such a divisive rally that it holds for counter-productive.

"From the outset we take a respectful approach and a sensitive choice of words regarding the opposing candidate and we will continue to do so," he said.

He also noted that the demonstration is planned on a shopping day, and as such would harm businesses, and is not in the interest of families who wish to peacefully do their Christmas shopping.

The demonstration is to proceed through the central Innere Stadt portion of the city, and is presumed to bring traffic disruptions. Endit