MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Alexander Van der Bellen, a Green-backed independent, narrowly defeated Hofer in the presidential run-off in May after finishing second in the first round. But the result was voided in July over irregularities in counting postal votes.
The first opinion poll by Gallup, commissioned by the Oesterreich newspaper, found that 52 percent of respondents would vote for Hofer and 48 percent for Van der Bellen.
The October 2 rerun could produce the European Union’s first far-right head of state in recent history amid immigration concerns. During his election campaign, Hofer called for more curbs on migrant arrivals and stricter asylum rules.