VIENNA — Austria’s highest court on Friday ordered a rerun of the country’s presidential election, giving a nationalist candidate the chance to turn his narrow defeat into victory.
Unprecedented in Austria’s postwar history, the court ruling also appeared to be unique within the European Union and is looming large since Britain voted to leave the 28-nation bloc.
The decision, announced by Constitutional Court Chief Judge Gerhart Holzinger, represents a victory for the Freedom Party, which had challenged the May 22 runoff on claims of widespread irregularities. It came just a week before independent politician Alexander Van der Bellen was to be sworn in as president and 40 days after he was declared the winner of the vote.
It also has wider implications.
With Britain’s impending departure from the EU, a chance by Freedom Party candidate Norbert Hofer to turn his loss into a win would boost not only his party but also nationalist movements elsewhere in Europe who are all lobbying for a weaker EU or an outright exit from the bloc.
Those parties had hailed Hofer’s strong showing in May as proof of a surge in anti-EU sentiment. Several wasted no time in responding to Friday’s court decision.
Marine Le Pen of France’s National Front called it “very good news for patriots.”
“After the happy victory of Brexit in Britain … Austria also has a chance to find the path to freedom and national pride,” she said in a statement, referring to the British exit. “France’s turn will be next!”