Heinz Fischer, the president of Austria, has brushed aside his right-wing challenger to win a second six-year term in office.Fischer, the leader of the Social Democrat party, took 78.94 per cent of the vote on Sunday to defeat Barbara Rosenkranz, the controversial leader of the Freedom Party, with just 15.62 per cent. Rudolf Gehring, who heads the Christian Party, trailed in third with 5.44 per cent. I am extremely happy and thank the Austrian population for having so much confidence in me, Fischer said in remarks broadcast live on public television. Fischer, who is known for his diplomacy and caution, had served as a science minister and held various leadership positions in his party and in parliament before initially winning the presidency in 2004.
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