The candidate for the far right, Norbert hofer of the anti-immigration Freedom Party (FPO), has lost a fierce battle to become president of Austria to the former leader of the Greens and now independent candidate Alexander Van der Bellen. The first Presidential elections were held in April, with second round run off in May. The results of the second vote were annulled and a re-vote took place in early December.

Van der Bellen won 53.8% of the vote to Hofer’s 46.2% in a result that has given temporary respite to the beleaguered and badly beaten pro-European political establishment. The turnout was also a percentage point higher than in the May second round vote, standing at 74%.

The result dealt a blow to populists who had hoped anti-establishment anger had grown enough since the Brexit referendum and Trump's triumph to sweep Hofer into office. The closely watched vote also came before elections in France, Germany and the Netherlands next year.

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