Incumbent President of Austria Alexander Van der BellenVIENNA, Oct 9 Incumbent President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen is tentatively leading in the presidential elections, according to exit polls published by the OE24.TV and ORF TV channels. Thus, Van der Bellen is gaining 53-56 percent of the vote — this is an absolute majority. He is followed by right-wing FPÖ candidate Walter Rosenkrantz with 17-20 percent. way: leader of the Beer Party and punk musician Dominik Vlazny — 8-11 percent, independent candidate Tassilo Valentin — seven to nine percent, independent candidate Herald Grosz — five to seven percent, Michael Brunner from the MFG party — two to three percent, independent candidate Heinrich Studinger — 1.7 percent of the vote. The President of Austria is elected every six years. Any citizen of Austria who has the right to vote and has reached the age of 35 can become the head of state. Re-election of the incumbent leader for a second term is allowed once. The candidate who wins the absolute majority of votes in the first round wins the election. If there is no leader, the second round takes place, in which the two contenders who received the largest number of votes in the previous round meet. The head of state performs mainly representative functions, and also appoints the chancellor and, at his suggestion, ministers and members of the cabinet. In addition, he has the right to dismiss the government and dissolve parliament, and is also the Supreme Commander. The President can be removed from office based on the decision of a national referendum.
