Austria’s highest court has annulled the result of the presidential election narrowly lost by the candidate of the far-right Freedom Party. The party had challenged the result, saying that postal votes had been illegally and improperly handled.
The party also claimed that some under-16s and foreigners had been allowed to vote. The new election is expected to be held in September or October. If elected, Freedom Party leader Norbert Hofer will become the first far-right head of state of an EU country.
Following the court’s order to re-run the vote, President Heinz Fischer will be replaced on a temporary basis by three parliamentary officials, including Mr Hofer.