The far-right Freedom Party's historic victory in an Austrian parliamentary election has left it isolated and partly at the mercy of a powerful critic: the president, who must oversee efforts towards forming a viable coalition government.

Austria's far-right Freedom Party has opened the door to a new era, its leader Herbert Kickl has told supporters, as they celebrated an unprecedented election victory. Projected results gave Kickl's party 28.8% - more than two points ahead of the conservative People's Party on 26.3%, but far short of a majority.

The far-right has won the most votes in an Austrian election for the first time since the Nazi era, as the pro-Kremlin, anti-Islam Freedom Party (FPÖ) beat the ruling centre-right People's Party (ÖVP).