Shockwaves across Europe as far-right party wins Austrian election
THE LEADER of an anti-migrant party has taken pole position in the Austrian presidential elections – paving the way for the disruption to the two-party government system which has ruled the country since 1945.
By KATIE MANSFIELD
Express.co.uk
Mon, Apr 25, 2016
Norbert Hofer, the candidate for Austria’s right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ), won 36.4 per cent of the vote, and will face an independent candidate in the final vote next month.
It was the Freedom Party’s best result in a national election and comes after a campaign that focused on the impact of the migrant crisis.
More than 100,000 refugees have arrived in Austria since last summer.
The migrant crisis has divided the country and, in a major U-turn, the government, who initially backed German chancellor Angela Merkel’s open-door policy, shut Austria’s borders.
FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache said: “This is the beginning of a new political era. Today political history is being written in Austria.”
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