Social Democratic Party of Austria

The Conservative Austrian People's Party (ANP), led by its chairman and former chancellor Sebastian Kurz, wins 37% of the vote on Sunday's snap election in the Austrian National Council (lower house of parliament), according to the exit poll of Austrian television channel OE24.TV by the TACC.

Early parliamentary elections are taking place in Austria. Will former Prime Minister Sebastian Kurtz return to power and what are the possible scenarios after that?

Just over 6 million Austrian citizens elect 183 MPs. Stability - this is what the first who stood in front of the urns wished.

Austrian President Alexander van der Belen handed over a mandate to form a new government to the leader of the conservative Austrian People's Party Sebastian Kurtz, reports TASS. 

The event is held in the Hofburg Palace.

"Based on the election results, I give you the right to form a government as the party leader who won the majority of the votes," the head of state said.

Austrians are voting in a general election in which the frontrunner, conservative People's Party (ÖVP) leader Sebastian Kurz, is just 31.

The far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) and Social Democrats are competing for second place, opinion polls suggest.

The Social Democrats led the outgoing coalition with the ÖVP.

The astonishing rise of the extreme-right party, ‘Freedom Party’ (FPO), in Austria, after it defeated both the establishment parties in the first round of Sunday’s Presidential elections, has raised serious concerns.

Austria's far right won more than a third of the vote in the presidential election on April 24 and will face an independent in next month's run-off, dumping out the country's two main parties from the post for the first time.