(by Stefan Wallisch) (ANSA) - BOLZANO - 'Viva Kaiser Sebastian!'. The Austrians today crowned the young leader of the popular the country's leader: at the age of 31 Kurz is about to become the youngest head of government in Europe. Thanks to a clear shift to the right and a campaign against immigration, in just a few months the OEVP has come out of a deep crisis towards a triumph with 31.7% of the vote, almost 8% more than in 2013. An unprecedented win for a party in Parliament since 1945.

Postal votes will be decisive for the head to head for the second place between Christian Kern, SPOE - Social Democrats - (26.8%) Social Democrats Heinz Christian Strache's FPOE - far right - (26%). The Austrians went to the polls on a nice and warm autumn day.

The political climate became hot shortly after 5pm, when the first exit polls were released. The turquoise column (the traditional black of the people's party has been scrapped by the young leader in favour of a trendy color, editors's note) climbed up to over 31%, the red column of the Social Democrats and the blue one of the far right stopped at 26%, whereas the green one remained even below the 4% threshold. Bitter deafeat: for the first time - except for unseen circumstances due to postal vote - ecologists will not enter the parliament since they joined in 1986. The Greens, who did not even celebrate Alexander Van der Bellen's success a year ago at presidential election, were badly affected by the split from their historic leader Peter Pilz, who, with his new list, should instead enter the Nationalrat. On the other hand, the liberals NEOS are stable at 5%. The outgoing chancellor Kern speaking in parliament, admitted defeat: ''Austria, just like many other European countries, is seeing a move to to the right that obviously does not favour social democratic movements'', he said. Future chancellor Sebastian Kurz exulted. ''This vote - he said - is a clear mandate to implement the reforms and changes the citizens want''. ''Kurz is the clear winner of this election,'' commented president Van der Bellen, underlining that the final result will be announced only on Thursday, after the postal voting. Just like in the duel between Van der Bellen and Hofer, postal votes could favour liberal parties, but the political scenario is now well-defined. Kaiser Sebastian will be able to choose his coalition partner between the Social Democrats and the far right, counting on a majority close to 60%. For now, an alliance with Strache (OEVP and FPOE positions have been very close in recent months) seems to be a lot more likely to be established, but it is more difficult to come to an agreement with the SPOE, and certainly not with deputy chancellor Kern. The hypothesis of a rainbow government with Liberals, Social Democrats and Pilz, who stopped at 40%, was ruled out. The 'everlasting' campaign, which began two years ago, has definitely come to an end. Austria, which is not only geographically but also politically located between Merkel and Orban, has decided to shift to the right. (ANSA).