Heinz Fischer nieuwe president van Oostenrijk (en)

Heinz Fischer deputy parliamentary speaker, from the opposition Social Democrats, has come out first in the presidential elections in Austria.

Garnering 52.3 percent of the votes, Mr Fischer beat foreign minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner (47.7%), the conservative candidate.

The race for the position, which is purely ceremonial, became a test of right-wing politician Jörg Haider's popularity after he threw his weight behind Ms Ferrero-Waldner's candidacy.

The big issue in their respective campaigns was neutrality. While the foreign minister suggested reconsidering the country's neutrality, Mr Fischer said it was non-negotiable.

The current president, Thomas Klestil, is coming to the end of his second six-year term and, according to the Austrian constitution, cannot run again.

The presidental post has very few powers. The president is the nominal head of Austria's army and may sack cabinet ministers.

Ms Ferrero-Waldner is set to stay on as Austria's foreign minister.