Alexander Van der Bellen has narrowly beaten his far-right opponent Norbert Hofer and is now Austria’s new head of state.

Mr Van der Bellen campaigned on a pro-EU platform, backed by the Green Party.

According to the official results released by Interior Minister, Mr. Van der Bellen won 50.2 percent of the vote and Mr. Hofer 48.1 percent.

The far-right candidate, Norbert Hofer, conceded defeat on his Facebook page, writing: “Of course I am sad today. I would so gladly for you have taken care for our wonderful country for you as president.” He added: “The effort for this campaign is not lost, but an investment in the future.”

The result averted the prospect of the first right-wing populist head of state in post-Nazi Europe taking office in a democratic election, as New York Times reports. But the close result illustrated how deeply divided Austria is between left and right.