Politics

Austria's Freedom Party Looks Likely To Increase Share of the Vote in Upcoming Elections

Concerns about asylum seekers and the eurozone contributing to increased support

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(Reuters)—Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPO) appears likely to raise its share of the vote in Sunday elections, drawing on fears over bailouts for needier euro zone countries and the cost of supporting asylum seekers.

Social Democrat Chancellor Werner Faymann's government coalition may well survive, but opinion poll trends suggest the FPO could overtake his conservative junior partner, the People's Party. Austria's overall prosperity at a time of hardship in Europe has done little to dampen historic unease at immigration.