Austrian election on knife edge

Austria’s opposition Social Democrats had a slight lead over the ruling People’s Party in today’s nationwide elections, preliminary results showed, but the margin was razor-thin with votes still being counted.

State television, citing figures from the SORA Institute – the agency officially tabulating the results – said the centre-left Social Democrats had 35.8%, and that Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel’s People's Party was trailing slightly with 35.3%.