Austria's far-right party elects Norbert Hofer as leader ahead of polls Austria's far-right party formally elects Norbert Hofer to lead it into national elections later this month. Hofer took over the Freedom Party (FPOe)'s leadership in May after Heinz-Christian Strache resigned, both as party head and Austrian vice-chancellor, in the wake of the "Ibiza-gate" corruption scandal. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES