Austrian President wins election, according to projections
President Heinz Fischer, a Social Democrat, received 78.9% of the vote, far exceeding his main rival Barbara Rosenkranz, the Freedom Party, which reached 15.6%. Rudolf Gehring”s small Christian Party was third with 5.4%.
Turnout was just 49.2% of voters.
The results, which do not include the votes sent by post, were announced by Interior Minister Maria Fekter.
“I am completely happy and I thank the Austrian population to have much confidence in me, “Fischer said shortly after the results in an interview with public broadcaster.
Meanwhile, Rosenkranz, whose party is anti-foreign power and contrary to the European Union, argued she and her family had been victims of a “witch hunt” during the campaign.
Polls had predicted that Fischer achieved another term of six years. The vote was considered useful to measure the mood of extreme right in a country still suffers damage because of its relationship to the Holocaust.
Fischer, 71, is known for its caution and diplomacy. He was Minister of Science and held various leadership positions in his party and in Parliament before winning the presidency on April 25, 2004.
Rosenkranz, however, sparked controversy by saying that Austrian law banning the glorification of the Nazis contradicts the constitution and is against freedom of expression. Recently, however, declared its formal support for the law.
He also was criticized recently by an unclear answer to a question about the Nazi gas chambers. He has since admitted its existence.
Rosenkranz, 51, mother of 10 children, is the wife of a politician whose party was banned for being too radical. The candidate said his comments were misconstrued by his critics and the media.
“Of course we condemn these monstrous atrocities. I”ve never done anything,” Rosenkranz told The Associated Press referring to the mass murder of Jews and others by the Nazis.
The leader of the Freedom Party Heinz Christian Strache, who wants to be mayor of Vienna, had predicted at the outset that Rosenkranz earn up to 35% of the vote, but later distanced himself from the candidate.
April 26, 2010 5:02 pm 
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