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Europe

Mainstream hopefuls lag as Austrians vote for new president

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    In this photo taken Tuesday, April 19, 2016 a construction site is set up in front of election posters of Andreas Kohl, candidate for presidential elections of Austrian People's Party, OEVP, in Vienna, Austria. For the first time, Austria's next president will likely be someone who is not officially backed by one of the two parties that have dominated government since the end of World War II. That reflects massive voter unhappiness _ and spells possible political turmoil ahead. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak) (The Associated Press)

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    In this photo taken Tuesday, April 19, 2016 a woman walks past election posters of Norbert Hofer, candidate for presidential elections of Austria's right-wing Freedom Party, FPOE, in Vienna, Austria, Tuesday, April 19, 2016. For the first time, Austria's next president will likely be someone who is not officially backed by one of the two parties that have dominated government since the end of World War II. That reflects massive voter unhappiness _ and spells possible political turmoil ahead. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak) (The Associated Press)

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    In this photo taken Tuesday, April 19, 2016 a car drives between election posters of Alexander Van der Bellen, candidate for presidential elections and former head of the Austrian Greens, front, and Norbert Hofer, candidate for presidential elections of Austria's right-wing Freedom Party, FPOE, in Vienna, Austria. For the first time, Austria's next president will likely be someone who is not officially backed by one of the two parties that have dominated government since the end of World War II. That reflects massive voter unhappiness _ and spells possible political turmoil ahead. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak) (The Associated Press)

VIENNA – The outcome is unclear as Austrians vote for their next president. But one thing is nearly certain — for the first time the winner is unlikely to be a candidate supported by either of the two mainstream parties that have dominated politics since World War II.

Voting began Sunday with the latest polls showing support of 11-15 percent for contenders backed by the Social Democrats and the centrist People's Party.

That's well below the 21-24 percent of voters who support Norbert Hofer of the anti-immigrant Freedom Party and Alexander Van der Bellen and Irgmard Griss, who are running as independents.

No candidate is expected to get a majority Sunday and a runoff will likely be necessary May 22. That is expected to pit Hofer against Van der Bellen or Griss.