VIENNA (Sputnik) — The Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) during the state elections on Sunday to the Upper Austrian Landtag, the state parliament, came close to a traditional leader, the conservative Austrian People's Party (OVP), with a record 31 percent of votes, the state government's official elections website said after a half of votes had been calculated.
The right-wing populist FPO surpassed the Social Democratic Party (SPO), which received less than 20 percent of votes during the elections. The SPO and the OVP that were previously leading have lost some 18 percent of voters' support within six years since the last elections, while nationalists received almost 16 percent more votes than during the previous elections.
The FPO is seeking strengthening of immigration control.
The Greens, the New Austria (NEOS), the Christian Party of Austria (CPOE), and Communist Party of Austria (KPO) also participated in the elections. The last two parties failed to secure seats in the Landtag.
Local and mayoral elections also took place in Austria on Sunday along with state elections to the Landtag.
