Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) has opened the door to a new era, its leader Herbert Kickl has told supporters, as they celebrated an unprecedented election victory. Kickl's party won 28.9% of the vote according to official tallies - almost three points ahead of the conservative People's Party (ÖVP) on 26.3%, but far short of a majority.

Austria's Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl hailed a "new era" after preliminary results showed Sunday that the FPÖ had become the first far-right party to win in the country's parliamentary election since World War II, per EuroNews.

Following the parliamentary election in Austria, early projections indicate far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) will be the strongest faction in the parliament, beating the conservative ÖVP for the first time in history.

The far-right Freedom Party's historic victory in an Austrian parliamentary election has left it isolated and partly at the mercy of a powerful critic: the president, who must oversee efforts towards forming a viable coalition government.

Kremlin, anti-Islam FPÖ, led by Herbert Kickl, won 29.2% of votes, beating the ruling ÖVP of the chancellor, Karl Nehammer, into second place

European far-right and nationalist parties are celebrating the far-right Freedom Party’s win in Austria’s election

Its most likely partner the conservative Austrian People's Party (OVP), which finished runner up and also wants to impose tougher immigration rules. Otherwise a more centrist OVP-led coalition could take shape.

The formation of a new Austrian government won’t be an easy task, with potential for political uncertainty and deadlock, both during coalition negotiations and in governance, ING economist Franziska Biehl says in a note.

Austria’s Freedom Party leads in the vote count, but may not be able to find coalition partners to form a government under provocative leader Herbert Kickl.