Sunday

28th May 2023

Court orders rerun of Austria's presidential election

  • FPO's candidate Norbert Hofer, who narrowly lost in May, has been given another chance. (Photo: Hofer's campaign)

Austria's constitutional court on Friday (1 July) annulled the second round of the presidential ballot, setting the stage for an intense campaigning that could lead to the election of the first far-right president in the EU.

The results of the 22 May run-off ballot was challenged by the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) alleging irregularities in 94 out of the 117 constituencies.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

FPO's candidate Norbert Hofer lost to independent candidate, former Green Party leader Alexander Van der Bellen by only 30,863 votes in the second round of voting, even though Hofer came out on top in the first round in April.

The court's ruling is a big win for Hofer, who could be the EU's first far-right president.

"The decision that I will now announce makes no loser and no winner," constitutional court president Gerhart Holzinger said. "It serves only one goal: confidence in our rule of law and the strengthening of our democracy," he added.

The court interviewed a number of witnesses, who confirmed FPO's main complaint that absentee ballots were counted on Sunday, the election day in several districts, although by law they were only allowed to do so from Monday 9am.

The ruling means the run-off will have to be repeated. Austria's interior ministry said that 25 September or 2 October could be possible dates for a re-run, Der Spiegel reported.

Austria can anticipate a closely-fought campaign, in which the UK referendum to leave the EU could play a significant role.

Hofer said after the Brexit vote that he would be in favour of holding a referendum on Austria's membership in the bloc if the EU does not reform itself soon, while Van der Bellen is staunchly pro-EU.

Van der Bellen was supposed to be inaugurated on 8 July.

President Heinz Fischer will still step down as planned, and a three-member council will take over the presidential duties until a new leader is elected. One of the members is Hofer.

The European Commission has not commented on the ruling.

Analysis

Austria prepares for historic swerve to the right

A victory of the far-right candidate Norbert Hofer at Sunday's presidential election would open the way to a tandem with a far-richt chancellor in a near future, with unforessen consequences for the country's democracy.

Austria drafts anti-asylum law

Austrian lawmakers are set to pass a law that would prevent people from applying for asylum once a self-prescribed upper limit has been reached.

Analysis

Austrian election sets Europe's nerves on edge

The rerun of the Austrian election, in the post-Brexit climate, poses questions for the broader viability of the EU's post-WWII vision of a liberal and united Europe.

Column

What a Spanish novelist can teach us about communality

In a world where cultural clashes and sectarianism seems to be on the increase, Spanish novelist Javier Cercas (b.1962) takes the opposite approach. He cherishes both life in the big city and in the countryside.

Opinion

Poland and Hungary's ugly divorce over Ukraine

What started in 2015 as a 'friends-with-benefits' relationship between Viktor Orbán and Jarosław Kaczyński, for Hungary and Poland, is ending in disgust and enmity — which will not be overcome until both leaders leave.

Latest News

  1. How the EU's money for waste went to waste in Lebanon
  2. EU criminal complicity in Libya needs recognition, says expert
  3. Europe's missing mails
  4. MEPs to urge block on Hungary taking EU presidency in 2024
  5. PFAS 'forever chemicals' cost society €16 trillion a year
  6. EU will 'react as appropriate' to Russian nukes in Belarus
  7. The EU needs to foster tech — not just regulate it
  8. EU: national energy price-spike measures should end this year

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  2. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  3. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics
  6. EFBWWEFBWW calls for the EC to stop exploitation in subcontracting chains

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us