In a blow to Austria's conservative government, voters have elected moderate leftist Heinz Fischer as President. With about 80 per cent of the votes counted, projections showed him winning with around 52 per cent. The 65-year-old Social Democrat was the favourite after maintaining a narrow lead in opinion polls. During campaigning he stressed his commitment to the welfare state. Unlike his only rival, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, he is also clearly in favour of maintaining the neutrality Austria assumed after World War Two. Ferrero-Waldner, Austria's Foreign Minister, was aiming to become the country's first woman head of state. In the end she took around 48 per cent of the vote. She was nominated by Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel's conservatives and backed by Joerg Haider, whose Freedom Party is junior partner in the coalition government. Heinz Fischer will assume the presidency on July 8, taking over from Thomas Klestil, who is obliged to step down after two six-year terms. Fischer's victory means Austria will have a right-wing government and a centre-left president. The head of state has mostly symbolic functions, but his voice counts on important issues. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Heinz Fischer, candidate of the Social Democrats, gestures to supporters as they arrive in the socialist party headquarters in Vienna, April 25, 2004. (REUTERS)