General News Austrian presidential election invalidated - far right stands second chance

Österreich: Bundespräsidentenwahl muss wiederholt werden - SPIEGEL ONLINE (DE)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...d-and-must-be-held-again-hofer-van-der-bellen (EN)

Austria had an extraordinarily divisive presidential election earlier this year, with the two mainstream parties (currently in a parliamentary coalition) not making it to the final ballot. Instead, an ecologist and a far-right populist were the final candidates, with the incoming (but now invalidated) President Alexander van der Bellen narrowly beating Norbert Hofer.

The Austrian Constitutional Court overturned the election after irregularities were recognised as occurring.

Overall, while the possibility of Hofer regaining the election is alarming and would be a significant boost to far-right morale throughout Europe, the exercise of day-to-day power is in the hands of the Chancellor, though the Parliament has been relatively unstable in the lead-up to the election.

With any luck, the election result will not give the far-right victory. But as much as I detest politicians such as Hofer, it's important to recognise that many voters have genuine grievances about globalisation that must be respected and that mainstream politicians need to work more to engage with them in a way to deliver transitional jobs plans, show respect for their intelligence and meaningfully appreciate the cultural concerns before they lead to disaffection and often sour into racism and xenophobia when brushed aside.

Anyway, my best wishes to any Austrian members who found the campaign worrying that it won't be too difficult this time around.