Far Left Wins in Austria
From the BBC:
Mr Van der Bellen, a pro-EU independent backed by the Greens, beat Mr Hofer by just 31,000 votes among the 4.64m cast.Hofer had a 2% lead earlier in the night with 98 or 99 percent of the vote counted. A last minute surge from postal votes gave Van der Bellen his victory.
The president-elect vowed to address the "divisions" among Austrians that the poll had "made visible".
Mr Hofer's campaign had targeted anti-EU feelings and fears about migrants. He said his defeat was a "sad day".
The Freedom Party candidate said on his Facebook page (in German): "Please don't be disheartened. The effort in this election campaign is not wasted, but is an investment for the future."
'Relief'
The interior ministry said Mr Van der Bellen had won 2,254,484 votes to Mr Hofer's 2,223,458, or 50.3% to 49.7%.
Besides his outspoken views in favor of gay marriage and other liberal programs, Van der Bellen has called it a social duty to accept Islamic refugees into Austria.
Disappointing results... especially considering how narrow the loss was, but I suspect Hofer will be back.
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