He polled 52.4 per cent of the votes to defeat Benita Ferrero-Waldner, then foreign minister in the ruling conservative coalition led by the People's Party.
El obtivo o 52,4% dos votos derrotando a Benita Ferrero-Waldner, entón ministra do Exterior na coalición liderada polo partido Popular Austríaco – ÖVP – conservador.