(VOVworld) – Austria was not the first EU country to elect a right-wing candidate to be its president.

The Freedom Party's Norbert Hofer (right) is up against Alexander Van der Bellen, an independent who has the support of the Greens (Photo: AFP/Getty)

The results of the 2^nd presidential election on Monday showed that Alexander van der Bellen of Green party with 50.3% votes narrowly led Norbert Hofer of the Freedom party of Austria with 49.7% votes. Hofer’s failure has reduced concern of right-wing parties’ rising power in Europe.