Austrian chancellor's party chases 'photo-finish' election victory

The conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) of Chancellor Karl Nehammer is holding out for a last-minute victory against its far-right challenger in parliamentary elections on Sunday.

"From my point of view, we have now started to overtake after an enormous race to catch up," ÖVP General Secretary Christian Stocker said at a final campaign event on Friday about the race against the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ).

It is clear that the parties were running neck-and-neck at this stage, Stocker said: "It will be a photo finish."

Immigration has been a central topic of the campaign. The FPÖ led by Herbert Kickl intends to crack down on immigration with full force if it takes over government, and also accelerate the deportation of migrants to their home countries.

ÖVP leader and Austrian Chancellor Nehammer on Friday reiterated his refusal to work together with Kickl.

While the FPÖ as such remains a possible partner, Kickl personally does not fulfil the criteria for forming a responsible, viable government. "I have therefore ruled him out," said Nehammer.

On Sunday, almost 6.4 million Austrians are eligible to elect a new parliament. The FPÖ's long clear lead in the polls has recently shrunk to two percentage points ahead of the ÖVP.

Pollsters put voter support for the FPÖ at 27% and the ÖVP at 25%, while the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) is threatened with a record low of around 20%.

The Greens, previously a coalition partner of the ÖVP, can expect around 9% of the vote, as can the liberal Neos.

While the ÖVP organized its event shortly before election day on a small scale in front of supporters at the party headquarters in Vienna, the right-wing populists are looking for the big stage.

Kickl is due to speak in front of a large crowd in front of the capital's St Stephen's Cathedral at the close of the election campaign in the evening.