Austrian president appeals to political parties to act respectfully during campaign

VIENNA, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has called on national political parties to act in a respectful manner in the lead-up to October's federal election.

In a statement on Tuesday, the president said politicians should be able to "see the world through the eyes of the next generation."

He spoke out against "dirty campaigning" that has already made numerous news headlines, and urged a moderate approach to focus on "which really matters: the future of our country."