VIENNA (AP) – Polling places are opening in Austria, where voters will decide whether the country moves right after decades of centrist policies and the result could pave the way for Europe’s youngest government leader.
Three parties are vying for first place in Sunday’s national election: the Social Democrats, the People’s Party and the Freedom Party.
The center-left Social Democrats have campaigned on reducing social inequality. The other two have focused on concerns about immigration and Islam.
A person passes posters of the conservative Austrian People’s Party, OEVP, left, and the Austrian Social Democrats, SPOE, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. Austria will hold national elections on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)
Both the People’s Party and the Freedom Party have called for securing Austria’s borders and quickly deporting asylum-seekers whose requests are denied. Polls show the popularity of People’s Party head Sebastian Kurz has put his party ahead.
The 31-year-old Kurz would become Europe’s youngest leader if his party wins and he can form a government.
FILE- In this Friday, March 17, 2017 file photo, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Vienna, Austria. Polling places have started opening in Austria, where voters will decide Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017 whether the country moves right after decades of centrist policies and could pave the way for Europe’s youngest government leader. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak, File)
Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern talks to supporters during a campaign rally of the Social Democratic party SPOe in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. Austria will hold national elections on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)
Hans-Christian Strache, leader of the strongly eurosceptic Austrian Freedom Party FPOE, drinks a beer during the final campaign rally of his party in Vienna, Austria, Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. Austria will hold national elections on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Demonstrators hold posters ‘Nazis get off’ during a demonstration against the Austrian Freedom Party FPOe in Vienna, Austria, Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. Austria will hold national elections on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)
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