AUSTRIA: Austrians expressed delight yesterday at Arnold Schwarzenegger's electoral win in California.
"I was moved to tears," said Ms Elfi Kling, who runs a restaurant in Mr Schwarzenegger's home town of Thal.
Mr Josef Heinzl, a school friend of Mr Schwarzenegger's, brushed off allegations the actor had groped women on film sets. "I have no doubt that he'll be one of the best governors California has ever had. He's a good man, a family man, and he stands for the people, not just for business alone," he said.
Even Mr Jörg Haider, the anti-immigration populist who sparked international protests by praising Nazi policies, had kind words for the Austrian-US citizen who criticised Haider's politics.
"This is not just a great personal honour for Schwarzenegger but also an honour and a boost for Austria in America," he said.
Austrian business also welcomed the victory as a boost to its image in the world and Austrian business in a state which says it has the world's fifth-largest economy. "This is priceless advertising for us," said Ms Christa Lausenhammern of Austria Tourism. Politicians from opposing conservative and Social Democratic camps also heaped praise on the new governor. "His success - first in sports, then professionally and now in politics - demonstrates to America and the world how good Austrians are," said Foreign Minister Ms Benita Ferrero-Waldner
In Thal, Social Democratic Mayor Peter Urdl raised a glass of champagne with friends around the television as the California results started coming in early in the morning.
"I can barely find the words. It is really super," said Mr Urdl said.
People on the street said the win would shine a positive light on Austria, whose image was marred by two rounds of international protests in the past 20 years linked to the country's Nazi past."If he continues to make clear his origins and reminds people that he is Austrian, it will certainly improve our image, at least in America," said Arno Castellani, a teacher.
Austria was hit with brief diplomatic sanctions in 2000 after Haider's far-right party entered government. He later retracted his comments supporting Nazi policies. In 1986, the United States led protests against the election of Kurt Waldheim as Austrian president after he was found to have covered up his past service with the German army in its brutal Balkans campaign in the second World War.