1mln Austrians tune in to presidential debate ahead of Sunday elections

Over one million Austrians tuned in to watch a final television debate between Austrian presidential hopefuls on Thursday evening ahead of the polls on Sunday.

Figures revealed Friday showed that 1.036 million Austrians tuned in to watch the six candidates make a final attempt to promote their agendas in order to win over voters in their bids to take office in the Hofburg Palace in the national capital.

Themes discussed were the armed forces including its functions as well as the issue of conscription and the ongoing migrant crisis.

The general consensus was that no particular individual stood out, bringing no change to expectations from political experts that the outcome on Sunday may be very close.

Greens party politician Alexander van der Bellen has enjoyed a very slight lead in opinion polls, followed by far-right Freedom Party politician Norbert Hofer and independent candidate Irmgard Griss.

Somewhat further back are Social Democrats representative Rudolf Hundstorfer and Andreas Khol of the conservative People's Party, while construction entrepreneur and socialite Richard Lugner has placed clear last in most polls.

Source: XINHUA