Polls close in pivotal Austrian election

15 October 2017, 6:22 pm

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Voting in a general election that will decide whether Austria moves to the right after decades of centrist policies has ended.

Final results from Sunday’s election aren’t expected until later in the week, but provisional results are expected to start rolling in now that polls are closed.

Three parties are vying for first place in the national election: the Social Democrats, the People’s Party and the Freedom Party.

Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, head of Austrian People’s Party, and his girlfriend Susanne Thier (L) leave the polling station after they cast their vote in Vienna, Austria, October 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

The People’s Party was favored to win the most votes. The party is part of Austria’s current governing coalition. Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz has taken it to the right since becoming party leader in the spring.

The 31-year-old Kurz would become Europe’s youngest leader if his party wins and he can form a government.

— AP