Excerpt:
Austrian presidential candidate Alexander Van der Bellen on Sunday called the idea of banning burkinis "ridiculous," according to news agency APA.
The former Green party leader admited to the agency that he found the full-face veil to be "a bit scary."
But he said that he did not agree with conservatives who have been calling for a legal restriction on women wearing the burkini, a full-body swimsuit inspired by the burqa.
Van der Bellen is campaigning for the presidency against far-right contender Norbert Hofer.