Austrian public broadcaster ORF has reported in initial exit polls that the recent scandal that took down the former far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache just last week did little to dent the party’s support.
The FPÖ was down only 2.2 points, to 17.5%. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who faces a confidence vote in parliament on Monday, saw his People’s Party (ÖVP) gain 7.5% support placing it clearly in the lead. (ORF / DW)
This is a summary of Politico’s projections for the voting today in Austria:
Austria – The projections
If turnout of 45.39% is maintained in this vote, Politico predicts that the OVP will beat second placed SPO by 65,465 votes. That is 1.83% of the 3,587,041 non-voters.
The FT projections aggregate indicates that both OVP and SPO will get 6 seats out of the 18 seats.
Austria – The Issues
FT reports that the dissolution of the country’s right-wing coalition government, made up of conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s ruling Austrian People’s party (ÖVP) and the far-right Freedom party (FPÖ), within a week of the European vote casts uncertainty over Austria’s outcome.
While OVP remains in the lead, its now former coalition partner has fallen behind the progressive, pro-European Social Democrats. The end of chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s controversial coalition with FPO means Austria is headed for a snap election. The EU parliament poll pits pro-European values against Euroscepticism, and will likely serve as a test for the upcoming national contest.
The majority of voters in Austria, which was on the front line of the 2015 migration crisis, say immigration is one of the most important issues facing the EU and the issue will probably play a strong role in the campaign.
