On Sunday 24 April voters went to the polls in Austria to elect the President of the country for the next 6 years. Surprisingly, Norbert Hofer of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) won the first round, receiving about 36% of the vote, followed by independents Alexander Van der Bellen - formerly member of the Greens party - and Irmgard Griss - a former President of the Supreme Court, that had won about 20 and 19% of the votes respectively. While the right wing Hofer presented himself as the anti-refugee and eurosceptic candidate, Van der Bellen presented himself as the pro-refugee and pro-EU candidate. The outcome has broken the two-party system, and unprecedented, as presidential elections had always led to either a victory for the Social Democrats (SPÖ) or the People's Party (ÖVP). While the role is large ceremonial of the President, he does have the power to dissolve the Parliament, something which Hofer has hinted on going to do if he would win. Van der Bellen on the other hand has sworn he would never install a FPÖ government, in case they would win in new elections. Voters will head to the polls again next month during the second round of the presidential elections, on 22 May.

The campaign took place as society in Austria is becoming increasingly polarized on whether the country should take a more strict approach when it comes to immigration or a more open approach. The Austrian government had earlier been in favor of Merkel's more open approach to refugees, although following increasing influxes of refugees, in a U-turn it had decided to re-impose border controls and introduce an influx cap on refugees on the 17th of February. A further shift to the right could be expected following the presidential elections, especially if Hofer would win next month and call for new parliamentary elections. 

The victory by the right-wing candidate, especially if confirmed by the second round on 22 May, confirms the trend of the rise by right-wing parties across Europe, as well as a general increasing shift of public opinion towards more xenophobia when it comes to refugees as well as to the European Union, a new wave of nationalism. Earlier during regional elections in Germany on 13 March, the right wing party Alternative for Germany has also secured big victories. Furthermore, on 5 March, right-wing parties have surged in Slovakia as well, while polls across Europe suggest more victories could be expected across Europe during new elections. Earlier the IMF has warned for rising economic nationalism across the world, and also in particular in Europe.

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