Former Greens leader Van der Bellen casts vote in Austria election

Record ID: 102427

  • Title: Former Greens leader Van der Bellen casts vote in Austria election
  • Date: 22nd May 2016
  • Summary: VIENNA, AUSTRIA (MAY 22, 2016) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** AUSTRIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, ALEXANDER VAN DER BELLEN, ENTERING POLLING STATION ALONG WITH HIS WIFE / HANDING HIS PASSPORT TO ELECTION COMMISSION MEMBER MEMBER OF ELECTION COMMISSION HANDING BELLEN BACK HIS PASSPORT VAN DER BELLEN WALKING TOWARDS VOTING BOOTH MEDIA FILMING VAN DER BELLEN EXITING VOTING BOOTH, PREPARING TO CAST HIS BALLOT VAN DER BELLEN DROPPING VOTE INTO BALLOT BOX / BELLEN THANKING EVERYONE VAN DER BELLEN LEAVING POLLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, ALEXANDER VAN DER BELLEN, SAYING: "I'm fairly optimistic, but we will only know in the evening, perhaps Monday evening, because of the additional votes that have to be counted. But I'm fairly optimistic." VAN DER BELLEN LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 6th June 2016 11:46
  • Keywords: Austria presidential election voting Greens Alexander van der Bellen
  • Location: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
  • City: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
  • Country: Austria
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014IW27UV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Former Austrian Greens leader Alexander van der Bellen cast his vote in a tightly contested presidential election on Sunday (May 22).
    Van der Bellen, who came second in the first round on 21 percent, is up against the far-right candidate of the Freedom Party, Norbert Hofer.
    He has accused his opponent of having an authoritarian view of the president's powers, saying Hofer wants to dismiss the government so snap parliamentary elections can be held.
    The president traditionally plays a largely ceremonial role but swears in the chancellor, can dismiss the cabinet and is commander in chief of the military.
    Support for the Freedom Party candidate has been buoyed by a migration crisis that has heightened fears about employment and security.
    Sunday's run-off election comes four weeks after Hofer unexpectedly won the first round with 35 percent of the vote.
    A projection of the outcome will be published when the last polls close at 5 p.m. (1500 GMT), and the result is due to be announced after 7 p.m. (1700 GMT).
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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