Austrian president secures re-election in first spherical, projections present By Reuters

VIENNA (Reuters) -Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen secured a second six-year time period in workplace by successful greater than 50% of the vote in an election on Sunday to keep away from a runoff, in response to preliminary projections issued quickly after voting closed.

Neither of the primary centrist events fielded candidates within the election, and senior figures from each backed Van der Bellen, a 78-year-old former chief of the Greens. The far-right Freedom Social gathering was the one celebration in parliament to place ahead a candidate towards the president.

A projection by pollster SORA for nationwide broadcaster ORF, primarily based on a partial depend of 64.8% of votes, put Van der Bellen on 55.4% with a margin of error of 1.9 share factors. His nearest rival was the Freedom Social gathering’s Walter Rosenkranz on 18.4%.

Preliminary projections in Austria, primarily based on the depend from the polling stations that closed earlier within the day, have proved dependable previously. The final polling stations to shut embody these within the cities of Vienna and Innsbruck.

A separate projection by ARGE Wahlen for nationwide information company APA put Van der Bellen on 55.9% and Rosenkranz on 17.9%, primarily based on 62% of votes counted.

The Austrian president largely performs a ceremonial function, but in addition has sweeping powers that imply overseeing intervals of transition and turbulence. Van der Bellen has constructed up a fame for having a gentle hand and calm method, notably in occasions of disaster.