Austria presidential vote set to punish ruling parties

VIENNA: Austria's presidential ballot on Sunday is expected to highlight the decline in the country's two traditional parties, which for the first time since 1945 look unlikely to produce a winning candidate.

Although the role is mainly symbolic, the ballot is a key indicator of the parties' standing ahead of the general election in 2018.

"Like elsewhere in Europe, we are witnessing the downfall of the traditional parties," political expert Peter Hajek told AFP.

"They have failed to modernise over the past decade and attract new voters."

The so-called "great coalition" between the Social Democrats (SPOe) and the conservative People's party (OeVP) has dominated Austrian politics for the best part of the last 70 years.

But polls suggest their candidates trail far behind in Sunday's race.