Big gain for Austrian right in regional poll

The Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) appeared to gain 31.4 percent of the vote in the state of Upper Austria, the country's industrial heartland. The results were announced after 31 percent of the ballots had been counted, hinting at a doubling of votes for the right-wing party according to projections by broadcaster ORF. The corresponding figure in the last elections in 2009 was only 15.3 percent.

"We were optimistic since the start," said FPÖ chief Hans-Christian Strache, adding that the results so far had exceeded their expectations.

"I'm overwhelmed by this amazing election."

However, the conservative Christian Democrats (ÖVP) seemed to retain their lead at 35.5 percent, while having to forfeit an apparent drop of more than 11 points under preliminary results. FPÖ appeared to be the second-strongest party, relegating the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) to third place.

Refugee crisis pivotal issue in polls

Austria has become a major transit country for tens of thousands of migrants entering from Hungary in recent months, many of whom were on their way to Germany. But Austrian authorities said they also expected around 80,000 asylum claims in their country this year alone - a high number compared to other European Union countries on a per capita basis.

The FPÖ called for stricter border controls and the erection of a border fence to control the arrival of thousands of migrants - seeking a parallel with Hungary's controversial border fence. A Freedom Party representative said that forcing towns to take in refugees was the one issue that had angered voters the most.

Analysts at Austria's Public Opinion Strategies said that fears over the migrant crisis had informed voting patterns in Upper Austria - the country's fourth biggest state in terms of geographical size.

The vote came two weeks ahead of elections in the city state of Vienna, a bastion of the Social Democrats for decades, which lately has seen a rise in support for the far-right. Hans-Christian Strache, the leader of the FPÖ, predicted that his party would become the strongest in Vienna.

ss/gsw (AFP, dpa)