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Hofer to visit Czech Republic, Russia, China first of all if he wins elections

The new election is now scheduled for December 4.n der Bellen

VIENNA, November 27. /TASS/. Norbert Hofer of Austria’s right-wing Freedom Party is planning his first international visit to the Czech Republic and then will visit Russia and China if he wins the presidential elections on December 4, he said in an interview with Vienna-based Austria national daily newspaper.

"I’ve talked with Russia’s Ambassador, who asked me whether I would like to visit Moscow in the nearest future, and I replied that yes, I would do it," Hofer said. "I’ve also been invited to China. But I would pay the first visit to the Czech Republic as I’ve promised this to President (Milos) Zeman," he added.

In late May, Alexander Van der Bellen, the former leader of the Austrian Green Party and at that time an independent candidate, won Austria’s presidential polls with 50.3% of the vote, the country’s interior ministry said after counting of 100% of votes. His rival, Norbert Hofer of the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria, has scored 49.7% of votes, or by slightly more than 31,000 votes less than Van der Bellen.

On the Voting Day, Van der Bellen was falling short of Hofer by almost 3.8% But the situation changed after votes cast by mail were counted. The voter turnout in the second round of voting was 72%, with 60.7% of eligible voters showing up at polling stations on Sunday. The rest cast their votes by mail. The Austrian central electoral commission issued 885,000 such ballot cards. However, the election results were cancelled, and the new election is now scheduled for December 4.

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