The far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), part of the new governing coalition, campaigned in the election to reverse the previous government’s smoking ban legislation in order to defend “freedom of choice”.

According to reports, the party’s leader, Heinz-Christian Strache, is himself a smoker despite previous attempts to quit.

More than half a million Austrians have signed a petition calling for the ban on smoking in bars and restaurants to go ahead.

In a small concession, the government is raising the minimum age for smoking to 18 and banning smoking in vehicles with children on board.