While Jörg Haider's BZö (Alliance for the Future of Austria) seems headed for annihilation, the even more right-wing remnant of the Freedom Party which it seceeded seems to be polling a solid 6-8%, comfortably ahead of the 5% threshold needed for re-election to the Austrian parliament.

While the Christian Democrats seem static within a couple of points of 39% with no credible coalition partner, the Social Democrats and Greens between them seem stuck in the mid 40s. Will this be enough to form a coalition government? That depends on whether or not renegade former Social Democrat Euro MP Hans-Peter Martin cross the 5% barrier? Opinion polls show him hovering either side of it, with his personal list running on a clean government ticket.

Could the Christian Democrats actually form a coalition with Hans-Christian Strache? Will the mathematics of other parties allow a red-green coalition to take office? Or will the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats fall back on a grand coalition and a return to the old, corrupt days of Proporz?

Or will the whole thing just end up being one big mess?

Latest polling - Christian Democrats 38%, Social Democrats 34%, Greens 11%, Freedom Party 8%, Hans-Peter Martin 5%, BZö 3%.