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Former Austrian president endorses Greens-backed candidate as successor

Xinhua, December 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

Former Austrian President Heinz Fischer on Wednesday publicly endorsed Greens-backed candidate Alexander Van der Bellen as his successor ahead of the repeat run-off presidential election day on Sunday.

Fischer told a news conference in Vienna he has known Van der Bellen for decades and is convinced that he has the necessary qualities for the presidential office.

"He will be a better opener of doors, that can help us better in our contact with other countries," Fischer said.

Fischer, who formally ended his second term in office on July 8, was joined by Irmgard Griss, an independent candidate who was knocked out in the first round of voting for the election despite trailing Van der Bellen in third place by less than three percent of the vote.

Griss noted that she hoped the election on Sunday "will go the same way as it did the last time," where Van der Bellen won by a narrow margin of less than one percent. Enditem