53.3% of Austrian voters chose Alexander Van der Bellen 
Vienna, Dec.5.─ Austria's voters have resoundingly rejected anti-immigration and eurosceptic Norbert Hofer's bid to become the European Union's first far-right president, a result greeted with relief from centrist politicians across the continent.
Instead, Greens-backed independent candidate Alexander Van der Bellen swept 53.3 % of Sunday's vote against 46.7 % for his rival from the anti-immigration Freedom Party (FPOe), according to public television projections.
"Today it is not an exaggeration if I say that today we see a red-white-red - the flag of Austria - as a signal of hope and change. A red-white-red signal from Austria to all the capitals of the European Union," Van der Bellen, 72, said in Vienna.
The official result of what has been an ugly and polarising election in normally peaceable Austria, lasting 11 months, was not expected until Monday. But on Sunday an "incredibly sad" Hofer conceded defeat ...
[ Full text ]