The outcome is unclear as Austrians vote for their next president. But one thing is nearly certain — for the first time the winner is unlikely to be a candidate supported by either of the two mainstream parties that have dominated politics since World War II.
Voting began Sunday with the latest polls showing support of 11-15 percent for contenders backed by the Social Democrats and the centrist People’s Party.
That’s well below the 21-24 percent of voters who support Norbert Hofer of the anti-immigrant Freedom Party and Alexander Van der Bellen and Irgmard Griss, who are running as independents.
No candidate is expected to get a majority Sunday and a runoff will likely be necessary May 22. That is expected to pit Hofer against Van der Bellen or Griss.
