The far-right has resurged in local elections in Vienna, the Austrian capital, securing the biggest gains in votes and mandates following a campaign laced with anti-Islamic rhetoric.
With only absentee ballots left to be counted on Sunday, the anti-immigration Freedom Party won 27 percent and 28 seats in the regional parliament — up from 13. That’s a significant boost from the 14.8 percent they garnered during 2005 elections and near their record high of 27.9 percent, achieved in 1996, when the late Joerg Haider was at the party’s helm.
“With a hand on my heart, I am deeply grateful for the confidence the Viennese have given me and I know what that responsibility means,” Freedom Party chief Heinz-Christian Strache said.
The Social Democrats took the lead with 44.2 percent of the vote — down from 49.1 percent in 2005. However, with just 49 seats to call their own, down from 55, they lost their absolute majority and will now have to look for a coalition partner.
That comes as a significant blow to longtime mayor Michael Haeupl, who had hoped his party would not have to share power.
“The voter is always right in a democracy and as a democrat I accept this result and now we have to keep working,” said a clearly crushed Haeupl, who has given no indication he would resign over the outcome.
He said the Freedom Party had done a better job mobilizing its supporters.
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