Far-right hopeful Hofer within reach of Austrian presidency on Sunday

[rooster59]

Far-right hopeful Hofer within reach of Austrian presidency on Sunday

 

 

Austria faces a stark choice on Sunday, just as it did in May when left-leaning Alexander Van der Bellen and the far-right’s Norbert Hofer last faced off to become the country’s president.

 

Then, Van der Bellen won, but only narrowly, and with the vote later annulled due to counting irregularities, they are doing it all over again.

 

Wrapping up his campaign in a speech to supporters in Vienna on Friday, the former Green Party leader who is running as an Independent, stressed the extent of what is at stake.

 

Van der Bellen said the election is “not only about two people. It is also about the direction in which our country will go”.

 

With the race too close to call, his rival, running on an anti-immigration platform, could become the first far-right head of state in a European Union country.

 

Hofer, of the Freedom Party, has however pulled back from an initial suggestion that Austria could follow Britain’s vote to leave the EU by holding a referendum of its own.

 

“I get asked by a lot of media representatives, ‘Will Austria quit the European Union?’ No. Austria’s duty as a country in the middle of Europe is to develop this union,” Hofer told his final campaign rally in the Austrian capital.

 

The suspense couldn’t be greater as Van der Bellen tries to stem the tide of anti-establishment populism sweeping Europe and the United States.

 

But, given the trend – and talk of a so-called Trump effect – Hofer will be hoping the largely ceremonial presidency is now well within reach.

 

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-12-03

 

[TommyUK1960]

Good luck Norbert Hofer

[Grouse]

I would be careful with far right Austrians ?

[geriatrickid]

1 hour ago, Grouse said:

I would be careful with far right Austrians ?

 

Gee. What could go wrong. We have Trump and his Mussolini mannerisms,  the depsot Duterte,  Vlad the Madman etc.........................

[Lupatria]

5 hours ago, Grouse said:

I would be careful with far right Austrians ?

And after the "annexation" of Germany to the "Austrian Empire" it is again said that the best Germans still come from Austria...

[Kiwiken]

All Hail Hofer. 

[Grouse]

1 hour ago, Lupatria said:

And after the "annexation" of Germany to the "Austrian Empire" it is again said that the best Germans still come from Austria...

 

 

Watch out for an Austria Hungary Anschluss!!

[OMGImInPattaya]

Time to send another old time socialist into retirement and reverse the open-borders immigration policy and hasten the undoing of the European Union.

[elgordo38]

How 3rd world. Have they no shame. 

[Hulu]

Hope this time Hofer will get it.Would be a great start to go back to national Staats.EU is an rigged finance System , together with the Euro--Brexit was a great move--hope others start soon to follow.Maybe Austria next ?


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[bassman]

Let me see if I have this right:  if you are a conservative you are "far right", if you are a member of the socialist green party you are "left leaning".

 

Time for a wave of new and honest press, people are not buying the BS.  Free press is dead.

 

 

 

[Grouse]

11 hours ago, bassman said:

Let me see if I have this right:  if you are a conservative you are "far right", if you are a member of the socialist green party you are "left leaning".

 

Time for a wave of new and honest press, people are not buying the BS.  Free press is dead.

 

 

 

 

Ken Clark is far right? Nonsense

[Grouse]

What a relief! Phew!

 

Such civilised people!

 

Beer anyone ? ?

[simple1]

2 minutes ago, Grouse said:

What a relief! Phew!

 

Such civilised people!

 

Beer anyone ? ?

 

Yes - excellent news

[Kiwiken]

Missed the Presidency but the Austrian Freedom Party still one of the largest blocs in Austrian Politics.

[Hulu]

Well imigration will go on heavy now---working people have to pay for --boarders will be open---soon all Christmas will be gone---schools will teach Türkisch and moslem , in 20 years Austria will be death---1culture less.hurray the elite wins


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[Hulu]

But at least Italia had the guts to fight for human right


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