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Austria's leading candidate improves image in country regions: expert

Xinhua, December 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

A big difference for the repeat presidential election in Austria was that Greens-backed independent candidate Alexander Van der Bellen had improved his image in country regions, an expert said on Sunday.

Several improvements to weaker points were key for Van der Bellen in Sunday's race, said Franz Fischler, president of the European Forum Alpbach and politician for the conservative People's Party.

Van der Bellen had had much greater acceptance in cities, and had subsequently made concerted effort to address the regional population, said the expert.

In addition, Fischler believed that the campaign to win the support of mayors in municipalities also played a key role.

He said 200 mayors spoke in favour of Van der Bellen as a candidate, and it had a strong impact because in Austria, this office holds considerable prestige. Endit