Projections from ORF public television based on exit polls suggest that the pro-Russia, anti-immigration Freedom Party, or FPÖ, has finished first, with 29.1% of the vote.
It appears to have knocked the ruling conservative Österreichische Volkspartei (ÖVP), or Austrian People’s Party, into second place, with 26.2% of the vote.
But it has fallen far short of an absolute majority in the tight election and will need help to form a stable government.
But even if the party fails to form a coalition government, the result will serve as a symbolic victory for the far right.
Chancellor and ÖVP leader Karl Nehammer has so far ruled out any coalition that includes Kickl.
Persons:
Österreichische, Herbert Kickl, ”, Adolf Hitler, Kickl, Vladimir Putin —, Karl Nehammer
Organizations:
Party, Austrian People’s Party, Social Democratic Party of Austria, ÖVP, NATO
Locations:
Russia, Europe, Austria, East, North Africa, Ukraine, Germany, France, Netherlands