Austria may call referendum over EU political ‘centralisation’

The European Union should avoid any moves towards political “centralisation” or else Austria could hold a referendum on membership of the bloc within a year, a far-right candidate who almost won the country’s presidential election said.

Norbert Hofer of the anti-immigration Freedom Party narrowly failed to become the European Union’s first far-right head of state in Austria’s presidential run-off last month.

His party has, however, challenged that result and a ruling is pending.