Hofer’s victory would have pushed populism into Europe’s core, proving such platforms can win elections even in wealthy, economically advanced societies. Van der Bellen did not particularly excite Austrian progressives. BERLIN — Elder statesman Alexander Van der Bellen beat back the far-right insurgent candidate in Austria’s high-stakes presidential race, claiming a wafer-thin victory in the final count Monday following a campaign that exposed the rise of populism in the West. Rural voters tended to favor Hofer, while his opponent Van der Bellen scored bigger in cities. The Austrian Interior Ministry declared Van der Bellen, a long time Green Party politician running as an independent, the victor with 50.3 percent of the vote to Hofer’s 49.7 percent.

Source: National Post May 23, 2016 10:48 UTC