Norbert Hofer tells Austrians he's not a radical
Austrian right-wing populist Norbert Hofer is focused on reassuring the country that he is not the radical some opponents accuse him of being.
Hofer says that both he and his left-leaning rival, Alexander Van der Bellen, are "level-headed people." And he says he wouldn't push for a referendum on Austria's exit from the European Union but would focus instead on the EU's positive development.
Hofer spoke before casting his ballot Sunday. With most Austrians critical of the European Union but not to the point of wanting to leave it, Hofer Freedom Party no longer suggests that Austria would be better off outside the EU.
Instead, it is pushing for an EU of loosely allied members mostly sharing economic ties.
