Far-right on cusp of power in election showdown

Austrians returned to the polls on Sunday in a bitterly fought marathon election, which could propel the European Union's first far-right president to power and boost the anti-establishment tide sweeping many countries.

Norbert Hofer of the hardline Freedom Party hopes to emerge victorious after he narrowly lost to his Greens-backed rival Alexander Van der Bellen in a first run-off in May, which was annulled over ballot count breaches.

Boosted by Brexit and Donald Trump's shock US election win, smooth-tongued gun enthusiast Hofer has vowed to "get rid of the dusty establishment" and fight against "Brussels centralizing power".