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The Austrians vote this Sunday to elect their 183 deputies. Early parliamentary elections made necessary by the corruption scandal of "Ibizagate", revealed last May, which ended the coalition between conservatives and extreme right. The favorite is the young Sebastian Kurz, 33, former Conservative Chancellor, candidate for his own succession. But even if the polls predict a comfortable victory for him, he has to find a partner to govern, a difficult task.
From our correspondent in Vienna , Isaure Hias , and our special correspondent , Anastasia Becchio
In their votes , the various party leaders spoke only of this future coalition whose face remains very uncertain. There is not really any suspense about tonight's winner, it should be the young conservative Sebastian Kurz. The whole question is who he could govern with. Pamela Rendi-Wagner, the head of the Social Democrats, has little doubt.
" I hope the participation will be high because today, the Austrians can prevent a new coalition between conservatives and extreme right, " she said.
Renew the alliance with the far right
Renewing this alliance is the wish of the FPÖ , the far-right party. Despite the scandals of recent months, its leader, Norbert Hofer, wants to show that his party is frequent. During his vote, he sent a barely veiled message to Sebastian Kurz.
" I want to make the FPÖ a conservative right-wing modern party. The main issue for me is: how to renew the party? That's why I met several experts last week , "said the extreme right leader
As he has done throughout the campaign, the principal concerned, Sebastian Kurz, carefully avoids the question. " Our goal is clear: to be first in these elections. Our most important goal is that there is no majority against us, "he says.
In addition to a coalition with the far right, the young conservative could join forces with the liberal party Neos and the Greens. But the differences are numerous with the ecologists and make this scenario very uncertain. Ditto for an alliance with the Social Democrats.
► See also: Austria: early parliamentary elections, but for which alliances?
Voters split on Sebastian Kurz's face
Headphones around his neck, Sofia, leaves the polling station, in the 7th district of Vienna to find friends in one of the many organic restaurants in the area. She has just given her voice to the Greens.
After a campaign in which climate issues have replaced the migratory issue, the environmentalist party is expected to return to parliament and is even ready to make an alliance with the Conservatives. Greens in the government, why not, says Sofia, even if the cohabitation could be very delicate
" I'm not a fan of Kurz ," she says. " Maybe they can do something, even if it will be difficult to communicate with each other. But anyway, it will always be better than a Kurz alliance with the FPÖ. "
Concerned about immigration
In the previous legislative elections in 2017, in the trendy district of Neubau, the Conservatives of the ÖVP won less than 20% of the vote. At the national level, opinion polls credit them from 33% to 35%. Concerned about the issue of immigration, Monika, retired vote for the party of former Chancellor Kurz.
" Kurz first said," Not everyone can come here. " Austria has 115,000 refugees. In the 7th arrondissement, here, it's pretty good that it has changed a lot, already. But go to the 16th arrondissement or 17th arrondissement, you are foreigners in your city. "
Should Sebastian Kurz make an alliance with the far right? Monika does not wish herself. They are too wet, she says, even if the prospect of a government with the Liberals and the Greens does not enchant him more.