Austria poised to become first European country to elect far-right party

AUSTRIA is a short step away from becoming the first European country to elect a far-right head of state.

The anti-Islam and eurosceptic Freedom Party (FPO) received more than a third of the vote in the first round of presidential elections on April 24.

The two parties came on top, toppling the govening Social Democrats (SPO) and their conservative coalition partners.

The unprecedented result triggered a party revolt that ousted SPO Chancellor Werner Faymann last week.

The surge in support for the far-right party is a result of mounting angst about living standard and more than 100,000 asylum requests in Austria.

The second round of the election is this Sunday, with FPO candidate Norbert Hofer against independent Alexander van der Bellen, a former Greens party leader.

The two rivals have exchanged bitter attacks in the run-up to the decisive vote that comes amid right-wing gains across Europe.

Austrian far-right candidate Norbert Hofer/Reuters

Mr Hofer, 45, has called Mr Van der Bellen a “fascist Green dictator” for saying as president he would block any government led by anti-Europe FPO boss Heinz-Christian Strache.

The far-right leader has said he would refuse to swear in a female minister wearing a headscarf, which he says represents the oppression of women.

Mr Van der Bellen , 72, says Hofer is just itching for the chance to dismiss the cabinet and usher in a right-wing government.

Mr Hofer, a gun enthusiastic, says his most important political project is to secure borders.

The far-right leader also voted against joining the EU in 1994.

A poll for an Austrian newspaper last week found Mr Hofer ahead by a 53-47 margin based on 600 people surveyed.

FPO has had a surge in popularity as Austria struggles to deal with migrants who have arrived in the country.

The party’s warnings about the security threat posed by Muslim refugees have hit the headlines.

But the party has been on the rise for several years due to fears about employment and security.

FPO regularly tops opinion polls with more than 30 per cent.

Anton Pelinka, a political scientist at Central European University in Budapest, said: “The basic difference between van der Bellen and Hofer is their view of Europe.”

Nearly a third of eligible voters failed to cast ballots in the first round.

Selina Sykes – Express