GETTY Austrians are divided over the upcoming election re-run with commentators predicting far-right rise

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As Austrians gear up to take to the polls again fear is spreading through the country the Freedom Party’s candidate Norbert Hofer could become their next leader. The right-wing politician was narrowly defeated by former Green leader Alexander Van der Bellen, a 72-year-old economics professor, in one of the closest presidential elections the country has seen in recent history. After the contest in which the Greens won by less than 0.5 per cent of the eligible voters the country's - Constitutional Court announced a fresh vote was needed. The announcement just days before the inauguration ceremony shocked the nation but accusations of procedural errors could not be ignored.

GETTY Alexander Van der Bellen, a 72-year-old economics professor, was originally victorious

Since the vote, pro-EU Van der Bellen has gained further popularity following the uncertainty brought about by Brexit, but attacks across the west in France Belgium and Germany are pushing voters towards the Freedom Party. Austria has been described as a "divided" nation with studies showing urban areas and cities having totally opposing political ideals. Some social commentators are speculating the country's relationship with the European Union is behind the split, as well as the migrant crisis and the EU failure to stop attacks.

GETTY Freedom Party’s candidate Norbert Hofer has seen a rise in support and was narrowly defeated

Gunman kills two people at concert in Austria Sun, May 22, 2016 Police say a gunman has fired shots into a small crowd at an open air concert in Nenzing , Austria's, killing two people and wounding 11 before shooting himself. Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 8 Police stand guard in Nenzing, near Vorarlberg, at the scene of a shooting where a man fatally shot two individuals and wounded eleven

It is quite clear that the SPÖ failed to take the worries of the working classes seriously Lea Eisinger

Lea Eisinger told the Guardian people have "lost hope" in the country. She said: "I’m from Vienna, where Norbert Hofer has a lot of support in the city’s working-class districts. "They feel the Social Democrats have turned their back on them, and it is quite clear that the SPÖ failed to take the worries of the working classes seriously. "They have now become the largest group of FPÖ voters." Hofer is critical stand of the EU for its handling of the refugee crisis and over national sovereignty, while Van der Bellen made an explicit case for more integration. Easternmost areas closer to the borders voted for the far-right leader - suggesting the flow of migrants and vicinity to other struggling nations is swaying voters. Support for the Green leader comes from the north of the country and the two westernmost provinces of Vorarlberg (58.6 per cent) and Tyrol The western provinces that are known as conservative strongholds with a traditionally weak left have produced a Green majority.

GETTY The Austrian people are divided over terror fears and Brexit worries as they prepare for polls again