Weird, a positive election outcome in 2016

[schneefink]

Austria just elected the left-wing instead of the right-wing candidate president! And it wasn't close, a 6% difference, ten times as much as in the original run-off election. Even bigger voter participation too. I'm so, so relieved.

I still don't think the Constitutional Court decision to repeat the election was correct, but in hindsight it was probably a good thing. If they hadn't the FPÖ would always keep the rumors alive that Van der Bellen only won because of manipulation, and like this it's unambiguous.

Comments

[jae]

I'm so relieved and pleased for you folks!

-J

[schneefink]

We got the result almost immediately too! None of that endless anxious waiting I'd been afraid of. This might have been the first election in 2016 (that I paid attention to) where I was not optimistic about the outcome, but this time the surprise was very nice.

[muccamukk]

Congratulations on finally getting a result, and not electing a facist!

Fourth time's the charm, apparently.

[schneefink]

Maybe not electing bad guy will make everyone overlook the embarrassment that was the faulty glue affair?

[snickfic]

Congratulations! I'm very happy for Austria.

[schneefink]

I'm very happy for my country, but I'm at least as glad for the fact that this won't give the right-wing movements in other countries, especially in Germany and France, even more momentum.

[beatrice_otter]

I'm so glad SOMEBODY has good political news!

[schneefink]

Yeah, so far 2016 has had so many terrible election outcomes that this was a surprise. (On the same day, the reform plans in Italy failed.)

[extrapenguin]

Congratulations!

[schneefink]

Now other countries need to do the same :)

[extrapenguin]

Well, we have local elections in a few months, and I'm trying to get involved with the largest left-wing party. 2018, there's the election for the largely ceremonial president, but 2019 we get to elect the Parliament AND Europarliament (with only a month or two between the election days).

(Though I do wish that my party of choice would make getting actually involved and informed slightly easier. I am mostly confused, despite being on the mailing list.)

[schneefink]

Good luck with your elections! Fingers crossed.

[dolorosa_12]

This is fantastic news! I'm so happy for everyone in Austria! Let's hope this trend continues in Europe next year.

[schneefink]

Let's hope!! (Let's also hope it continues in Austria at the next parliamentary elections, those are even more important.)

[extempore]

Meiner Ansicht nach war das kein "Österreich ist Vorreiter", sondern ein typisches "Österreich springt erst viel später auf den Zug auf".

Denn ganz ehrlich, es müssten auf der Stelle und sofort tiefgreifende, wirklich erdbebenartige soziale und finanzielle Umstrukturierungen stattfinden, um noch irgendwie die Kurve kratzen zu können, aber nachdem wir in Ö sind und siehe oben... Ich bin ziemlich sicher, dass dies nur der letzte Aufschub war. Um Rechts kommen wir nicht herum, wenn die Politiker so weitertun, wie bisher. Und nachdem wir in Ö sind etc....

[schneefink]

Lass mich einen Tag lang optimistisch sein! ;)
Die FPÖ wird bei der nächsten NR-Wahl wieder sehr gefährlich, vor allem, weil die ehemaligen Großparteien beinahe auseinanderfallen. Mal sehen.

[lilly_the_kid]

Finally! Hope, precious hope!!

[cesy]

I am so relieved for this bit of good news in amongst everything else.

[tielan]

YAY.