Austrian right-winger Hofer plans 2022 run for presidency

Pollsters had depicted the election as too close to call ahead of Sunday and the vote had been watched anxiously by Europe's political middle as a proxy test of populist strength in other EU countries fielding strong euroskeptic candidates in elections next year.

[...] he said "I support us backing the European Union's positive development" away from a political union and toward a loose federation of states focused mainly on economic cooperation.

[...] it now ranks as Austria's strongest political force, capitalizing on wide-spread disenchantment with established political parties to siphon off Austrians with moderate views — a development Hofer sought to emphasize.