Austria's far-right looked set Monday for a possible return to power in a coalition with conservative "whizz-kid" Sebastian Kurz, the world's youngest leader-in-waiting, in a fresh triumph for European populists.
Such a rightward shift in the wealthy European Union member state would pose a fresh headache for Brussels as it struggles with Brexit and the rise of nationalists in Germany, Hungary, Poland and elsewhere.
The People's Party (OeVP), rebooted by Kurz as a more hardline "movement", was projected to have won 31.7% of Sunday's vote, with final results expected later this week.
In second place were the Social Democrats (SPOe) of incumbent Chancellor Christian Kern on 26.9%, closely followed by the eurosceptic Freedom Party (FPOe) on 26.0%.
Founded by ex-Nazis in the 1950s, the FPOe's result is close to its all-time record of 26.8% in 1999 under then-leader Joerg Haider, and twice that of their allies the Alternative for Germany (AfD) last month.
Kurz, 31, forced the snap vote after becoming OeVP chief in May and ending the acrimonious decade-long coalition with the SPOe.
He attracted supporters in droves by depicting himself as a breath of fresh air, talking tough on immigration and vowing to slash taxes and red tape.
Far-right 'normalisation'
The OeVP, in power non-stop for 30 years, and FPOe already governed together between 2000 and 2007, turning Austria into a pariah.
But there would not be the same backlash now owing to what experts say is the "normalisation" of Europe's far-right.
France's National Front (FN) called Austria's election "another welcome defeat" of the EU, in a statement Monday.
Like the FN, AfD, and Geert Wilders in the Netherlands, the FPOe has stoked concerns about a record influx of migrants into Europe.
More EU tensions
Despite Kurz's pro-EU pledge, observers say a right-wing alliance risks driving a wedge between Vienna and Brussels.
Vienna will hold the EU's presidency in the second half of 2018, just when Brussels wants to conclude Brexit talks.
Kurz and his views on immigration and economic policy are "diametrically opposed" to those of France and Germany, according to Paris-based Austria expert Patrick Moreau.
The FPOe meanwhile wants EU sanctions on Moscow lifted and pushes for closer ties with eastern and central European countries.
But for EU Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn, an Austrian from Kurz's party, the ballot "does not mean Austria is moving to the right".
"It's clear any government will have a very pro-European agenda because the main political parties are very much committed to the European Union," he told reporters in Luxembourg.
