Austrians vote Sunday in snap elections, in which the conservatives look set to triumph but will have difficulties finding a partner to govern after a corruption scandal brought down their last coalition with the far-right.

The People's Party (OeVP) led by 33-year-old Sebastian Kurz is predicted to gain around 33 per cent, up slightly from the last elections two years ago but not enough to form a majority government.

Kurz has "nothing to win, but a lot to lose", according to an editorial in Die Presse daily on Saturday.

"Even with a nice plus on Sunday, it is more difficult for him than in 2017," it said, adding there was no partner that quite suited him anymore.

With 6.4 million people eligible to vote, polling stations open at 7 am &nbsp;(0500 GMT) and close at 5 pm (1500 GMT) when first projections are expected.&nbsp;

Far-right troubles

The parliamentary elections were brought about by the "Ibiza-gate" corruption scandal that engulfed Kurz's far-right coalition partner in May, after just 18 months in government together.

Experts have predicted "whizz-kid" Kurz could once again partner up with the Freedom Party (FPOe) in a re-run of the coalition that has been touted by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and other nationalists as a model for all of Europe.

But fresh allegations of wrong-doing have shaken the far-right over the past week.

Prosecutors confirmed Thursday they were investigating Heinz-Christian Strache, who resigned as FPOe leader and vice-chancellor in May because of "Ibiza-gate", over fraudulent party expense claims.

The FPOe's current leader, Norbert Hofer, has said he won't tread "gently" if any wrong-doing is confirmed, leading to worries that supporters of Strache, who led the party for 14 years and remains influential, could stay away from the polls in protest.

Kurz himself has also warned that left-leaning parties could gain more than predicted and then band together to form a coalition without him.

"If there is just a little shift... then there will be a majority against us," Kurz told supporters at a final rally in Vienna on Saturday.

Climate matters&nbsp;

Unlike in 2017, the top voter concern is not immigration -- a welcome topic for Kurz and his former far-right allies -- but the climate.

Tens of thousands of people marched Friday in Vienna and other Austrian cities to demand the government fight climate change.

The protests were part of global demonstrations led by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and the biggest yet in the small Alpine country of 8.8 million inhabitants.

Against this backdrop, Austria's Greens -- who failed to get into parliament in 2017 in shock results -- look set to make the biggest inroads on Sunday.

They are tipped to gain around 13 per cent, up 10 percentage points from two years ago.

It remains to be seen if Kurz, a former law student who has enjoyed a rapid ascent through the ranks in Austrian politics, tries to woo them and another small party, the liberal NEOs, after Sunday to form a partnership.

Unsurprisingly given the reason the election was called, corruption in public life and party financing have also been prominent themes in the campaign, as well as more bread-and-butter issues like social care.

Another option for Kurz could be forming a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPOe).

With a predicted historic low of around 22 per cent, the SPOe was neck and neck with the FPOe before the troubles this week as the country's second strongest party.

Since World War II, either OeVP or SPOe have always governed, and for 44 years in total the two ruled together, but it was Kurz who ended their last partnership, leading to the 2017 polls.

Kurz has also floated the idea of ruling in a minority government. But this would potentially continue political uncertainty and could even trigger another election.

Either way, negotiations between parties are expected to take months again. Ultimately, President Alexander Van der Bellen, a former Greens leader, will need to approve any government.

The OeVP-FPOe government imploded in May when two German media outlets published footage filmed secretly on the Spanish resort island of Ibiza, showing Strache appearing to offer public contracts in exchange for campaign help from a fake Russian backer.

Austrians vote Sunday in snap elections, in which the conservatives look set to triumph but will have difficulties finding a partner to govern after a corruption scandal brought down their last coalition with the far-right.

Austrians vote Sunday in snap elections, in which the conservatives look set to triumph but will have difficulties finding a partner to govern after a corruption scandal brought down their last coalition with the far-right. The People's Party (OeVP) led by 33-year-old Sebastian Kurz is predicted to gain around 33 per cent, up slightly from the last elections two years ago but not enough to form a majority government. Kurz has "nothing to win, but a lot to lose", according to an editorial in Die Presse daily on Saturday. "Even with a nice plus on Sunday, it is more difficult for him than in 2017," it said, adding there was no partner that quite suited him anymore. With 6.4 million people eligible to vote, polling stations open at 7 am (0500 GMT) and close at 5 pm (1500 GMT) when first projections are expected. Far-right troubles The parliamentary elections were brought about by the "Ibiza-gate" corruption scandal that engulfed Kurz's far-right coalition partner in May, after just 18 months in government together. Experts have predicted "whizz-kid" Kurz could once again partner up with the Freedom Party (FPOe) in a re-run of the coalition that has been touted by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and other nationalists as a model for all of Europe. But fresh allegations of wrong-doing have shaken the far-right over the past week. Prosecutors confirmed Thursday they were investigating Heinz-Christian Strache, who resigned as FPOe leader and vice-chancellor in May because of "Ibiza-gate", over fraudulent party expense claims. The FPOe's current leader, Norbert Hofer, has said he won't tread "gently" if any wrong-doing is confirmed, leading to worries that supporters of Strache, who led the party for 14 years and remains influential, could stay away from the polls in protest. Kurz himself has also warned that left-leaning parties could gain more than predicted and then band together to form a coalition without him. "If there is just a little shift... then there will be a majority against us," Kurz told supporters at a final rally in Vienna on Saturday. Climate matters Unlike in 2017, the top voter concern is not immigration -- a welcome topic for Kurz and his former far-right allies -- but the climate. Tens of thousands of people marched Friday in Vienna and other Austrian cities to demand the government fight climate change. The protests were part of global demonstrations led by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and the biggest yet in the small Alpine country of 8.8 million inhabitants. Against this backdrop, Austria's Greens -- who failed to get into parliament in 2017 in shock results -- look set to make the biggest inroads on Sunday. They are tipped to gain around 13 per cent, up 10 percentage points from two years ago. It remains to be seen if Kurz, a former law student who has enjoyed a rapid ascent through the ranks in Austrian politics, tries to woo them and another small party, the liberal NEOs, after Sunday to form a partnership. Unsurprisingly given the reason the election was called, corruption in public life and party financing have also been prominent themes in the campaign, as well as more bread-and-butter issues like social care. Another option for Kurz could be forming a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPOe). With a predicted historic low of around 22 per cent, the SPOe was neck and neck with the FPOe before the troubles this week as the country's second strongest party. Since World War II, either OeVP or SPOe have always governed, and for 44 years in total the two ruled together, but it was Kurz who ended their last partnership, leading to the 2017 polls. Kurz has also floated the idea of ruling in a minority government. But this would potentially continue political uncertainty and could even trigger another election. Either way, negotiations between parties are expected to take months again. Ultimately, President Alexander Van der Bellen, a former Greens leader, will need to approve any government. The OeVP-FPOe government imploded in May when two German media outlets published footage filmed secretly on the Spanish resort island of Ibiza, showing Strache appearing to offer public contracts in exchange for campaign help from a fake Russian backer.

Austrians vote in snap election with conservatives in lead

Rescue crews are searching for as many as 14 people including Germans, Austrians, and Swiss who have been missing for more than a day after a landslide struck a remote Swiss valley near the Italian border, police said on Thursday.

Authorities had evacuated around 100 people from the village of Bondo and airlifted hikers from nearby huts in the eastern canton of the Grisons after rocks and mud hit the area on Wednesday.

Police said they were unable to reach eight people in the area, six of whom had been reported missing by relatives, despite intensified searches by teams including an army helicopter outfitted with thermal sensing technology as well as rescue dogs.

At a news conference on Thursday, police officials added that a separate group of six people may also be missing, though it was unclear from family members who made the report at about 1130 GMT whether these individuals were in the area where the landslide occurred or if they were somewhere else.

&quot;The relatives don&#39;t know just where they were,&quot; Lt. Andrea Mittner said at a news conference televised on Swiss state broadcaster SRF.

Those missing were described as hikers and climbers.

No children or locals from the region were among those reported missing.

Austria&#39;s Foreign Ministry said two Austrians were among the missing.

The landslide&#39;s force registered a magnitude of 3 on the Richter Scale, Mittner said, equivalent to a small earthquake that can be felt by people and may shake indoor objects.

&quot;You can imagine just what a mass had to come down to cause an earthquake scenario,&quot; he said.

Bondo will remain closed until 0800 GMT on Friday, Mittner said. Additional landslides are possible. About 120 rescue workers are on the scene.

The missing people are described as hikers and climbers

Rescue crews are searching for as many as 14 people including Germans, Austrians, and Swiss who have been missing for more than a day after a landslide struck a remote Swiss valley near the Italian border, police said on Thursday. Authorities had evacuated around 100 people from the village of Bondo and airlifted hikers from nearby huts in the eastern canton of the Grisons after rocks and mud hit the area on Wednesday. Police said they were unable to reach eight people in the area, six of whom had been reported missing by relatives, despite intensified searches by teams including an army helicopter outfitted with thermal sensing technology as well as rescue dogs. At a news conference on Thursday, police officials added that a separate group of six people may also be missing, though it was unclear from family members who made the report at about 1130 GMT whether these individuals were in the area where the landslide occurred or if they were somewhere else. "The relatives don't know just where they were," Lt. Andrea Mittner said at a news conference televised on Swiss state broadcaster SRF. Those missing were described as hikers and climbers. No children or locals from the region were among those reported missing. Austria's Foreign Ministry said two Austrians were among the missing. The landslide's force registered a magnitude of 3 on the Richter Scale, Mittner said, equivalent to a small earthquake that can be felt by people and may shake indoor objects. "You can imagine just what a mass had to come down to cause an earthquake scenario," he said. Bondo will remain closed until 0800 GMT on Friday, Mittner said. Additional landslides are possible. About 120 rescue workers are on the scene.

Landslide in Swiss valley, 14 missing

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