Following Brexit in the UK and the election of Donald Trump in the US, Van der Bellen said his victory over Austrian Freedom Party (FPO) candidate Hofer — secured with 53.3 percent of the vote — sent a message not just to Austria, but to all of Europe.
"Today it is not an exaggeration if I say that today we see a red-white-red — the flag of Austria — as a signal of hope and change. A red-white-red signal from Austria to all the capitals of the European Union," Van der Bellen said after his victory.
#mehrdennje #bpw16 pic.twitter.com/6eK0FkrKpL
— A. Van der Bellen (@vanderbellen) December 4, 2016
Amid fears of a resurgent Euroskeptic, anti-immigration far-right political scene in Europe, particularly with upcoming elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany, the win was also lauded by liberal, pro-EU figures as a 'turning point' in the push back against right-wing populism.
#vanderbellens victory is a heavy defeat of nationalism and anti-European, backward-looking populism #bpw16 2/2
— Martin Schulz (@MartinSchulz) December 4, 2016
"A load has been taken off the mind of all of Europe," said German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said, adding that the result was "a clear victory for good sense against right-wing populism."
Ganz Europa fällt Stein vom Herzen! Wahl in #Österreich klarer Sieg der Vernunft gegen den Rechtspopulismus. Glückwunsch an Van der Bellen!
— Sigmar Gabriel (@sigmargabriel) December 4, 2016
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras described Van der Bellen's win as "a breath of fresh air in times when Europe is threatened by the rise of the far-right," outgoing French President Francois Hollande said the Austrian people had chosen "Europe and open-mindedness."
Congratulations to Pr. @vanderbellen for his election- a breath of fresh air in times when Europe is threatened by the rise of the far right
— Alexis Tsipras (@tsipras_eu) December 4, 2016
While Manfred Weber, the leader of the European parliament's center-right EPP group, boldly declared: "The right-wing populists' celebration is off for now."
Austrians are sending a clear pro European signal. The right wing populists' celebration is cancelled for now. #Austria #bpw16 1/2
— Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) December 4, 2016
Far-Right Far From Finished
Despite the huge sigh of relief from liberal and centrist political figures across Europe, some commentators have played down the significance of the win, saying that it has merely highlighted Austria's deep political divisions.
While Van der Bellen's victory was bigger than expected, analysts have pointed to the fact that more than 46 percent of voters backed Hofer, exposing the sharp ideological differences between the anti-immigration FPO and Van der Bellen's left-of-center, socially liberal agenda.
First thoughts on yesterday's Presidential Election in #Austria / #bpw2016 / #hofer2016 / #VanDerBellen / #FPO / #radicalright / #farright pic.twitter.com/L0wAAz5ZzK
— Ioannis E Kolovos (@ioannisekolovos) December 5, 2016
And despite the defeat for the largely ceremonial position of president, many have noted that the FPO remain a strong chance of forming government after the next national elections, due in 2018.
French Front National leader Marine Le Pen played on this theme, taking to Twitter to praise Hofer for "fighting bravely" and said the FPO would win the next general election.
There's no liberal triumph here —relief but no watershed moment. Polls for the next election in Austria, blue is the Austrian Freedom Party pic.twitter.com/eFxqlD9AxF
— Matthew Goodwin (@GoodwinMJ) December 4, 2016
Such predictions are not just shared by far-right voters, with the FPO currently leading opinion polls in Austria, ahead of the two centrist parties that make up Chancellor Christian Kern's grand coalition.
