Electoral battles

Austrian presidential campaign echoes Donald Trump, U.S. election

Norbert Hofer of Austria’s right-wing Freedom Party, narrowly lost the country’s presidential election last May to Alexander Van der Bellen, a more mainstream, pro-Europe candidate. But a court nullified the results after reports of irregularities, and a new election has been set for Sunday.

Founded by a former Nazi officer, the Freedom Party campaigned hard on an anti-immigrant platform. That hasn’t changed, but what has is the U.S. election.

“The Trump factor is here,” said political commentator Thomas Hofer.