Austria presidential election: Far-right Freedom Party 'comes top in vote'

Norbert Hofer has run a pro-gun, anti-immigrant, anti-Europe campaign

Members of the right-wing Austrian Freedom Party (FPOe) celebrate at the party headquarters during presidential elections in Vienna, 24 April 2016 (EPA)

Austria’s far-right, anti-immigrant party has come out comfortably on top in Austria's presidential vote.

Early results released by the country's election authorities appear to show the candidate of the right-wing Freedom Party taking 35 per cent of the vote, leaving his two establishment rivals with not much more than 10 per cent each.

Norbert Hofer has run on a pro-gun manifesto, carrying his Glock pistol with him on the campaign trail and declaring that the public arming themselves is a logical reaction to the influx of refugees as part of the pan-European crisis.

The initial results showed great voter dissatisfaction with Austria’s main political parties, and came as part of a wider trend of anti-establishment lurches across the continent.

Opinion polling prior to Sunday’s vote had put Alexander Van der Bellen, a radical environmentalist and himself the son of refugees, marginally ahead of Mr Hofer.

The candidate of the far-right Freedom Party, Norbert Hofer, arrives at the polling station at the first round of elections on April 24, 2016 (AFP/Getty Images)

He and fellow independent Irmgard Griss took around 20 per cent each, according to the early results.

One of those two is expected to face Mr Hofer in a run-off on 22 May. The results of that election are expected to be much closer, with moderate voters rallying around the remaining candidate.

Sunday's exit poll, if confirmed, would represent the Freedom Party's best ever result in national elections.

If Ms Griss were to come through to take victory, meanwhile, she would be Austria's first female president.

Mr Hofer's success reflects recent polls showing Freedom Party popularity. Driven by concerns over Europe's migrant crisis, support for his party in general has surged to 32 per cent compared with just over 20 per cent for each of the governing parties.

But voters were unhappy with the main Social Democrats and People's Party even before the migrant crisis last year forced their coalition government to shift from open borders to tough asylum restrictions. Their bickering over key issues — most recently tax, pension and education reform — has fed perceptions of political stagnation.

Additional reporting by agencies