Austrian president secures re-election with clear win, avoiding runoff

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen waves outside the polling station during presidential elections in Vienna, Austria, October 9, 2022. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

VIENNA (Reuters) -Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen secured a second six-year term in office on Sunday by winning a clear majority of votes in an election to avoid a runoff, according to projections based on almost all votes cast except postal ballots.

The 78-year-old former leader of the Greens has garnered broad popularity by projecting calm during times of national crisis, including the collapse of the government in 2019 and the resignation of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz a year ago over corruption allegations that Kurz denies.