PhotoBERLIN — The political turmoil in Europe spread on Friday when Austria’s highest court ordered a repeat of a presidential runoff election that a far-right candidate, Norbert Hofer, narrowly lost in May. If he wins, Mr. Hofer, 45, would be the first far-right politician elected head of state in Europe since World War II. But growing populism across Europe, and the seeming staleness of Austria’s mainstream parties, helped Mr. Hofer’s bid for the presidency. Along with promising to hold Austria’s government more accountable, Mr. Hofer and his party campaigned heavily on the migrant issue. Mr. Hofer’s Freedom Party claimed gross irregularities in the absentee ballot count that followed voting on May 22.

Source: New York Times July 01, 2016 10:39 UTC