There are two other candidates, one from the social-democratic SPÖ (incumbent federal president Heinz Fischer) and one from the right wing populist FPÖ, Barbara Rosenkranz. The Liberals, Greens and communists have not fielded a candidate, but neither has the liberal-conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP). The ÖVP chose not to field a candidate since the incumbent was likely to win.

Gehring is a former ÖVP member and until before his candidacy he was the president of the Christian Party of Austria (CPÖ). That party was founded in 2006 out of disappointment over the weak stance of the ÖVP regarding issues such as abortion, marriage and the family. Hence it is hardly surprising that the Greens resorted to a Pavlovian reaction, saying that Austria would 'return to the Dark Ages' with Gehring as president.

The surprising fact that Gehring has been sufficiently supported, makes him the only civil candidate, which means he could even end up in second place. He is moreover the only Christian candidate, since Fischer and Rosenkranz are both atheists. It can be expected that - in light of the alternatives - some ÖVP and other center and right wing voters will support Gehring and this could have interesting consequences.

Dennis Riehle from Germany writes more about this and about what people involved in Christian politics elsewhere in Europe can learn from Gehring in the Insight section: A candidate such as Gehring would do Germany good!