The populist wave unfurling in many countries could claim a fresh victory in Austria Sunday if Norbert Hofer is elected Europe's first far-right president since 1945. Austria's presidency is largely ceremonial, but a win for Hofer would be a major prize for Europe's anti-establishment parties ahead of elections next year in France, Germany and the Netherlands. Hofer posters were defaced with Hitler moustaches and Van der Bellen's with dog excrement. In a May 22 runoff, Hofer lost by just 31,000 votes to Van der Bellen. - 'Huge frustration' -Hofer, echoing Trump, has stoked and profited from a growing sense of unease about globalisation and multiculturalism, even though wealthy Austria is one of the biggest winners of European integration.

Source: Egypt Independent December 02, 2016 14:43 UTC