Far right falls short in Austria's presidential election; leftist wins

[Ken Burch]

Source: Los Angeles Times

A left-wing candidate supported by virtually the entire political establishment has narrowly defeated a far-right populist in Austria’s presidential election after a campaign that splintered the country and caused turbulence across Europe.

After absentee ballots were counted Monday, Alexander Van der Bellen, an independent candidate who once led the leftist Greens, emerged as the winner over Norbert Hofer, a 45-year-old gun-toting leader in the far-right Freedom Party who had railed against refugees and migrants as well as the political establishment in Austria. With just 31,000 votes separating the two out of more than 5 million cast, it was the closest presidential election in Austria since before World War II.

Hofer, frequently compared to Donald Trump, was the clear favorite to win the largely ceremonial office in Sunday’s election after coming in first with 35% of the vote in the opening round last month against five other candidates. But opposition to him solidified around Van der Bellen, and Hofer conceded defeat on Monday.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-austria-election-20160523-snap-story.html

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Fascism lost this round. But that was way the hell too close.

[Lodestar]

1. I sense a 'color' revolution coming to a country near you soon...n/t

[jtuck004]

2. This could be some serious irony. n/t

[Brother Joe Observes]

3. The loony right will never win in THIS country!

[olddad56]

5. you can't say that. We have had rigged elections as recently as 2004. I expect another one.

[Little Tich]

4. Good. n/t

[Peace Patriot]

6. Glad to hear this! But unless we solve the refugee crisis that WE created,

and start the awesomely difficult job of saving our planet and, at the same time, protecting the vast poor majorities of the world from the curses of climate change and war and the greed of uber-wealthy, the fascists will step right into the chaos of "neo-liberal" WRONG policy and rise once again, in a very similar way to Hitler's rise, and for very similar reasons.

Austria escaped by a hair. Very sobering, indeed.

[Ken Burch]

7. Thank you for that post. n/t.

[LittleGirl]

8. As we watched Euronews last night

both of us, me and hubby, went phew, Good News!! The far right there are exactly like the far right in the states!

[pampango]

9. Great to see the liberal, pro-EU candidate win though it was way too close.

Hundreds of left-wing protesters' shouting "Keep refugees, drive Nazi away!"

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/alternative-fur-deutschland-conference-protesters-germany-arrested-a7007971.html