Austria votes in snap election after video sting scandal

Voting has started in Austria’s snap general election, after a video sting scandal in May collapsed the coalition government.

Opinion polls suggest former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s conservative People’s Party is on track to win the most votes – but will need a coalition partner.

The Social Democrats, the far-right Freedom Party, the Greens and the liberals are also in the race.

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Coalition talks are widely expected to be difficult, and may last for weeks.

Polling stations across Austria will open at 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) and close at 17:00.

What was the video sting scandal?

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The scandal toppled Mr Kurz’s government, and the former leader of his coalition partner the Freedom Party (FPÖ), Heinz-Christian Strache.

Mr Strache, Austria’s Vice-Chancellor, was caught on video promising government contracts to a woman posing as the niece of a Russian oligarch.

The scandal was labelled “Ibiza-gate”, after the Spanish island where the video was recorded.

What are the options?

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The FPÖ, under new leader Norbert Hofer, is hoping to renew the coalition with Mr Kurz, who still leads the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP).

But while Mr Kurz shares a tough anti-migrant line with the FPÖ, the former chancellor may opt for a three-way pact with the Greens and the liberal Neos party – a first in Austria.

A grand coalition with the Social Democrats (SPÖ) is considered unlikely because of the bad relations between Mr Kurz and the centre-left leadership, the BBC’s Bethany Bell in Vienna says.

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