Independent candidate Alexander van der Bellen won a clear majority in the poll – ten times the margin of victory he achieved in the previous, aborted vote.
This is an endorsement of positive, progressive and pro-European values, said PES president Sergei Stanishev.
Mr Stanishev added:
“We are delighted and relieved that the people of Austria have made such a strong statement of solidarity in the face of destructive populism.
“2016 has been an unpredictable year, but this result clearly shows that the march of nationalism and populism is far from inevitable.”
