Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen is re-elected to another term

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has secured a second six-year term in today's elections held there.

Van der Bellen won a clear majority of votes, avoiding the run-off, Reuters reports, broadcast Clankosova.tv.

The 78-year-old former Green Leader has gained wide popularity by designing calm during the times of the national crisis, including the collapse of the Government in 2019 and the resignation of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz a year ago, on corruption charges Kurz still denies.

The Austrian president performs a largely ceremonial role, but also has sweeping powers meaning monitoring transition periods and turbulence.

The president in Austria is the army commander-in-chief and has the legitimacy to dismiss the entire government and Chancellor.