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| Europe |
| Independent candidate narrowly beats far-right rival in Austria presidential runoff |
| 2016-05-24 |
| [Iran Press TV] Austria's independent candidate Alexander Van der Bellen has narrowly defeated far-right rival Norbert Hofer in the country’s presidential runoff. The 72-year-old Van der Bellen, a former economics professor, won over 45-year-old Hofer, from Freedom Party (FPOe), by 50.3 percent to 49.7 percent, said Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka during an official announcement in the capital Vienna, adding that "a difference of 31,026 votes," clinched victory for Van der Bellen. "Very few people thought I could catch up. But in the last 14 days, there has been such a momentum among voters -- musicians, actors, workers, totally different people across all generations, professions and all sections of society," Van der Bellen, who had campaigned on a pro-EU platform backed by the Greens Party, said late on Sunday. Hofer conceded defeat in the knife-edge runoff and said in his Facebook account: "Of course I am sad. I would have loved to have looked after this wonderful country for you as president." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #9 I wonder how many Chicago dead people voted at the last second? |
| Posted by: Bill Shererong8752 2016-05-24 19:33 |
| #8 Not just a professor, an economics professor. |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2016-05-24 18:09 |
| #7 They'll still call it the 'Mandate of the People' though, Pappy. |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2016-05-24 16:59 |
| #6 I wonder how much 'help' our beloved administration gave to Mr. Van der Bellen? Probably a significant amount, though likely not as much as the Euros did. Interesting that, even with "such a momentum among voters -- musicians, actors, workers, totally different people across all generations, professions and all sections of society," they barely eked out a victory. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2016-05-24 12:46 |
| #5 It's who counts the votes. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2016-05-24 12:28 |
| #4 I wonder how much 'help' our beloved administration gave to Mr. Van der Bellen? |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2016-05-24 11:53 |
| #3 The freakshow of modern Europa Declares one blue blossom improper: Its portent of doom? A Teutonic Kornblume, The star of the Wiener soap-Oper. |
| Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220 2016-05-24 11:08 |
| #2 What could go wrong with a professor as president of your country? |
| Posted by: Raj 2016-05-24 10:53 |
| #1 Rooters sez he's an ex-Green: The Interior Ministry count gave van der Bellen, a former Greens party leader, 50.3 percent of the vote, compared to 49.7 percent for [Norbert] Hofer [of the Freedom Party]. The margin of victory was just over 31,000 out of nearly 4.5 million valid votes cast. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2016-05-24 08:51 |