Norbert Hofer, presidential candidate of the "right-wing populist" FPÖ [Austrian Freedom Party led by Heinz-Christian Strache] has won over 36 percent of the vote in a five-way contest that included the major parties!
Exit polls show that the two candidates nominated by the ruling parties failed to even make it to the runoff to be held May 22. This is the first time since 1945 that Austria's president will not come from the Social Democrats (SPOe) or the center-right People's Party (OeVP). Both party's candidates won only around 11 percent.
Independent Green candidate Alexander Van der Bellen, 72 (pictured right) did manage to advance to the second and final round with 21 percent of the vote. The independent candidate from the bourgeois NEOS Irmgard Griss got 18.5 percent of the vote.
It is a turning point in Austrian politics, with the best-ever performance for the Freedom Party at the federal level since its creation after World War II.
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