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Norbert Hofer knows what he wants. His destination is called Hofburg, the Viennese palace headquarters of the State Presidency. To get there he has a lot of work ahead, starting to soften his most radical postulates before the public. He knows it, and in recent months he has struggled to show himself as a serious politician, capable of presenting himself as a statesman and willing to dispense with messages full of anger and hatred from his party mates.

The politician was elected yesterday by a large majority as leader of the Austrian ultra-rightist party FPÖ ( Austrian Freedom Party) at the Graz convention and is considered the kindest formation face. Many see in him a leader capable of capturing social discontent at the polls, not only of the working class but also of the urban bourgeoisie.

But others are not seduced by their new style. In the midst of the refugee crisis, the 48-year-old politician described asylum seekers as "invaders" and made a popular call not to let people who are "willing to cut heads" cross the border. Once he wanted "a fence like Hungary." And it is that behind its facade of bourgeois politician many see a populist from the extreme right xenophobe. Although he has moderated his tone outings, for his critics Hofer is still a wolf in sheep's clothing, a man with two faces.

In 2016, he stayed at the gates of the absolute majority in the Austrian presidential elections . After being less than four tenths of the absolute majority in the second round, the FPÖ challenged the vote. The Justice admitted irregularities in the count and there were a few elections months later. Hebert lost to Alexander Van der Bellen, this time by a larger margin: he obtained 46.2% of the ballots against 53.7 of the veteran environmental politician.

Hofer's plan is clear: if in 2016 he stayed at the doors of the Presidency, in 2022 he plans to do everything in his power to reach it. Finally, as head of his party, he takes center stage in the face of the legislative elections of September 29, in which the formation of the Austrian National Council is chosen.

Son of a local politician of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), Hofer trained as a young aviation technician and worked for the Niki Lauda airline. In 2003 he suffered a serious paragliding accident that left him prostrate. Today, he suffers a slight disability and needs the help of a walking stick. Since 2017 he is Minister of Transport, Innovation and Technology of Austria, which has helped him to win filming not only as a politician but also as a manager.

Referendum promise

In the 2016 campaign he promised that if he won, he would organize a referendum in Austria for the exit of the European Union, a promise that helped him get fully into the club of European right-wing populists, among whom he enjoys good fame. Just before the fall of the Government in May, he planned a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, with whom he enjoys a good relationship.

Now, Hofer works incessantly to regain confidence in the match, which was questioned after the 'Case Ibiza' scandal. The filtering of some videos recorded with a hidden camera in an apartment on the Spanish island where the former head of the Heinz-Christian Strache party could be seen promising political favors to an alleged Russian millionaire in exchange for illegal donations for his party dragged the coalition government -between the FPÖ and ÖVP- to a political crisis that resulted in a relief in the executive headquarters. Prime Minister Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) announced the end of the Government and the call for new elections for September 29 .

The 'Ibiza Case' has caused the party to fall in the polls, and for this it does not hesitate to propose measures of democratic regeneration. Hofer advocates a change from representative democracy to direct democracy according to the "Swiss model". He also opposes the Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement (TTIP) and announced that he would veto his election and force a referendum if he reaches the Government. The ultra-rightist has been against the legalization of gay marriage and supports the right of citizens to bear arms. People "try to protect themselves in times of uncertainty," he said during the refugee crisis. Hofer himself is a gun lover and admits that he likes to carry a Glock 26, made in Austria. On social networks and is shown as a fan of firearms.

In the face of the elections, former Foreign Minister Kurz, 32, is the big favorite with 34% of the intention to vote . In second place, almost tied, are the Social Democratic Party (21%) and the FPÖ (20%).

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  • Austria
  • Alexander Van der Bellen
  • Viktor Orban
  • European Union

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