Austrian President Heinz Fisher Wins 2nd 6-year Term

Austrian president Heinz Fischer and his wife Margit react to the first projection during presidential elections in Vienna Sunday evening. Photo by BGNES

The Austrian President, Heinz Fischer, has won a second six-year term in office in a landslide election, BBC reports Monday.

The veteran Social Democrat politician won nearly 79% of votes, according to official results.

The controversial far-right candidate Barbara Rosenkranz won 15% of the vote while Rudolf Gehring of the small Christian Party was third with 5.44%. The results are expected to change slightly after the count of the postal votes.

Turn-out was low by local standards at just under 49%, but in Austria the Presidency is a largely ceremonial post.

"I am extremely happy and thank the Austrian population for having so much confidence in me," Fischer said on national TV.

The runner-up, Barbara Rosenkranz, claims she and her family had been victims of a "witch hunt." She was never expected to win the election, but many Austrians were outraged at her nomination over her past criticism of Austria's anti-Nazi laws, saying they go against the freedom of speech.

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