Annemie Neyts, MEP, ELDR Party President expressed her joy over the fact that the common list of Austrian Liberal Forum with SPÖ gathered the most votes in the Austrian Parliamentary elections, which took place on Sunday 1 October. “I congratulate Austrian liberals for their election victory and for their return to parliament. I look forward to an active Liberal presence of Alexander Zach in the Austrian parliament to compliment the Liberales Forum's presence in the European Parliament with MEP Karin Resetarits”, said ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts MEP.The tight victory of the SPÖ is a proof that the coalition between Liberals and Social Democrats was the right way to avoid a new right-wing-led government with the participation of the extreme-right. “Chancellor Schüssel has been punished for his close ties with the far right in the last years. Even if our contribution has been small, it was decisive”, stated Alexander Zach, chairman of the Austrian liberals. The margin of victory is so narrow it seems almost certain that the votes of the Liberales Forum made the difference between defeat and victory," added Graham Watson, ALDE Group Leader.