- Title: Postal votes to decide Austrian presidency, with far right in lead
- Date: 22nd May 2016
- Summary: VIENNA, AUSTRIA (MAY 22, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MEDIA WAITING ( SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, NORBERT HOFER, SAYING: "We have to wait until tomorrow, of course." AUDIO OF REPORTER ASKING: "It's still is a success for you, or?" "Yes, I'm happy. But I would be happier if I would be able to win." HOFER WALKING AWAY SURROUNDED BY MEDIA PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, ALEXANDER VAN DER BELLEN, WALKING UP STAIRS SURROUNDED BY MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, ALEXANDER VAN DER BELLEN, SAYING (IN RESPONSE TO REPORTER'S QUESTION: "What do you think brought you the votes that made the result so tight now?" "A proud movement of citizens, without any influence by media I should say, only sympathy and energy of all kinds of people, musicians, simple people, too." AUDIO OF REPORTER'S QUESTION : "What do you think the reaction will be in Europe if you've won tonight?" "Well, let's see what they say." (SOUNDBITE) (German) REPORTER ASKING "How do you evaluate this dead heat?" VAN DER BELLEN SAYING: "It wasn't unexpected, it isn't unexpected. It is possible that we'll know officially only tomorrow." REPORTER ASKING: "Presuming you win, how do you intend to unite… the many people who voiced opposition against your principles and policy?" VAN DER BELLEN SAYING: "I don't see it as negative. They voiced support for Mr. Hofer and the others voiced support for me. My goal and my policy will certainly be to bury trenches, not dig new ones." VAN DER BELLEN STANDING SURROUNDED BY MEDIA / WALKING AWAY MEDIA AT HOFBURG ELECTION CENTRE
- Embargoed: 6th June 2016 18:35
- Keywords: Austria election Norbert Hofer far-right Alexander van der Bellen
- Location: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
- City: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
- Country: Austria
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA0014IW3MFB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:The preliminary result of Austria's presidential vote on Sunday (May 22) showed far-right candidate Norbert Hofer ahead of independent Alexander van der Bellen.
But the margin is so narrow that as-yet uncounted postal ballots were set to prove decisive, according to Interior Ministry data.
Hofer, 45, and Van der Bellen, 72, both said that due to an extremely close count the result may be delayed until the following day.
Hofer won more than a third of all the ballots cast in the first round on April 24 and had been tipped to win 53 per cent in the runoff.
He voiced optimism and disappointment when asked about the close result and whether he considered the level of support he collected as a success.
"We have to wait until tomorrow, of course," Hofer told reporters. "Yes, I'm happy. But I would be happier if I would be able to win."
Van der Bellen indirectly attributed the turnaround to unified opposition to his rival's harsh anti-immigration, eurosceptic policies.
"A proud movement of citizens, without any influence by media I should say, only sympathy and energy of all kinds of people, musicians, simple people, too," he said.
He was also cautious predicting the outcome and commenting the race that may come down to a few ballots: "It wasn't unexpected, it isn't unexpected. It is possible that we'll know officially only tomorrow."
Hofer was in the lead on 51.9 percent, ahead of van der Bellen on 48.1 percent, the data showed. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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