Austria's Far-Right Freedom Party Wins First Round of Presidential Election

Austria’s far-right Freedom Party candidate, Norbert Hofer, won the first round in the country’s presidential election on April 24, with around 36 percent of the vote. This was followed by an independent candidate, Alexander Van der Bellen, who polled at 20 percent.

Hofer’s victory marks the first time since 1945 that the country’s main centre-left or centre-right parties, namely the Social Democrats and People’s Party, has not made the second round run-off. Credit: YouTube/FPO TV