- Title: Austrians reject far right in presidential election - projections
- Date: 4th December 2016
- Summary: JOURNALIST SPEAKING TO CAMERA
- Embargoed: 19th December 2016 16:49
- Keywords: Austria presidential election Norbert Hofer Alexander Van der Bellen projections
- Location: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
- City: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
- Country: Austria
- Reuters ID: LVA0035BGXMIV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: An environmentalist candidate has a clear lead in Austria's presidential election, projections showed on Sunday (December 4) after polls closed, dealing a blow to his rival's bid to become the first freely elected far-right head of state in Europe since World War Two.
If confirmed, the re-run result will be a relief for Europe's political establishment and a vindication for former Greens leader Alexander Van der Bellen, who narrowly defeated Norbert Hofer of the anti-immigration Freedom Party in the original runoff in May, before the re-run was ordered.
Van der Bellen had a clear lead over Hofer, according to a projection by pollster SORA for broadcaster ORF that included a partial vote count.
The projection showed Van der Bellen on 53.6 percent and Hofer on 46.4 percent, with a margin of error of 1.2 percentage points.
The projection will be updated throughout the evening. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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