Voters across Austria are heading to the polls on Sunday to elect the country’s new government, in a closely watched race that could see the far-right Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) come out on top.

The election is set to determine 183 new members of parliament, with 6.4 million Austrians eligible to vote in a population of nine million.

Polling stations will remain open until 5:00 p.m. local time (0300 GMT), and nine political parties and three formations are competing for seats in parliament. To secure representation, parties must surpass the 4% electoral threshold.

According to the latest pre-election surveys, the far-right FPÖ, known for its anti-immigration and nationalist platform, is leading the race with 27% of the vote. The center-right Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) follows closely at 25%, while the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) is trailing at 21%.

The Green Party and the liberal NEOS are expected to secure around 9% each, making them significant players in the likely post-election coalition negotiations.

If the FPÖ secures the top position, it would mark the first time since World War II that a far-right party has claimed victory in Austria’s national elections. The outcome is being closely watched both within Austria and across Europe, where far-right movements have gained momentum in recent years.

As the country awaits the final results, the formation of the next government will likely depend on intricate coalition talks, with multiple parties vying for influence in the new parliament. (ILKHA)