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AUSTRIA-VOTE-OPEN-POLITICS
Voting opens in Austria after ‘Ibiza-gate’
VIENNA, Sept 29, 2019 (AFP) – Austrians began to cast their ballots Sunday
with conservatives led by 33-year-old Sebastian Kurz looking set to win, but
with too few votes to form a government by themselves.
His People’s Party (OeVP) is predicted to win around 33 percent with the
Social Democrats (SPOe) and far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) vying for second
place.
With 6.4 million eligible to vote, poll booths across the country opened at
seven am (0500 GMT).
They will close by five pm (1500 GMT) when first projections are expected.
The parliamentary elections were brought about by the “Ibiza-gate”
corruption scandal that engulfed the FPOe in May, after just 18 months in the
Kurz-led government.
Analysts say it would be hard for the OeVP to find a viable coalition
partner this time with the anti-immigration FPOe weakened.
In 2017, the 80 percent turnout was, the highest since 2002.
The OeVP won 31.5 percent, while SPOe came second with 26.9 percent and
FPOe third on 26 percent.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1121 hrs