According to the Guardian (and I am sure plenty of other news sources), in the race for the office of President in Austria, the former Green Party leader, Van der Bellen just edged out far-right nationalist Hofer after the absentee ballots were counted. I am under the impression that the divide was largely a rural-urban divide, and that a sufficient number of urban dwellers were sufficiently spooked by the prospect of a leader of a presumably former neo-Nazi party becoming the face of their nation, and providing a platform for the Freedom Party to win big in 2018.
I honestly do not know Austrian politics especially well, but I get the impression that the two centrist parties have essentially collapsed, and that between the immigration crisis and long-term economic problems voters are looking for whoever can promise to save the day. I realize that right-wing nationalism is not just a problem in Austria, but is elsewhere in the EU as well, and of course here in the US (as the rise of Trump should indicate).
Not sure what the implications of this particular election are with some others on the horizon (from the Brexit referendum to upcoming elections in France and Germany next year, and our own in the US). While I am glad to see the people in Austria dodge a bullet this time, I am concerned over the near to medium term. No answers – at least from me. Hoping some of our European contributors are willing to chime in.
