Voters in Austria rejected a far-right selection for president in an election some had said was a bellwether for such populist candidates in Europe.
Norbert Hofer conceded defeat to Green Party candidate Alexader Van der Bellen in the presidential race on Sunday.
Hofer was a far-right candidate for the presidency, running on an anti-immigration platform that had mirrored other populist far-right movements in Europe.
If Hofer had won, it would have been the first time a member of a far-right party would have been elected a head of state in a Western European country.
British politician Nigel Farage, who spearheaded the Brexit movement in England, told Fox News’ Sean Hannity Friday that Hofer was likely headed for victory.
Farage said that Hofer would call for Austria to mirror Britain and hold a referendum to pull out from the European Union.
“I see 2016 as the year of a political revolution. Two revolutions, one in the UK, one in the USA,” said Farage, who also supported President-elect Trump. “It’s about nation-state democracy, taking back control of our lives and our future direction.”
Farage is the former leader of the UK Independence Party, which was a major proponent of the successful referendum to leave the European Union.
