This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/8087479.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| EU nations await huge vote result | EU nations await huge vote result |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The results of the largest election in the history of the European Union are due within hours, as voting draws to a close after four days. | The results of the largest election in the history of the European Union are due within hours, as voting draws to a close after four days. |
| Nineteen EU countries voted on Sunday, with eight others having voted in the past few days. | Nineteen EU countries voted on Sunday, with eight others having voted in the past few days. |
| All 736 European Parliament seats are up for grabs, though it is feared that turnout will hit a new low. | All 736 European Parliament seats are up for grabs, though it is feared that turnout will hit a new low. |
| BBC correspondents say the parliament in Brussels is buzzing with activity, with first results due at 2000 GMT. | BBC correspondents say the parliament in Brussels is buzzing with activity, with first results due at 2000 GMT. |
| Party groupings have quite literally set out their stalls along the main walkway, alongside mini TV studios - some rather grand and gleaming, others little more than a stool and camera, says the BBC's Europe editor Mark Mardell. | Party groupings have quite literally set out their stalls along the main walkway, alongside mini TV studios - some rather grand and gleaming, others little more than a stool and camera, says the BBC's Europe editor Mark Mardell. |
| Protest vote | Protest vote |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero led EU leaders and officials in casting their ballots on Sunday. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero led EU leaders and officials in casting their ballots on Sunday. |
| EU PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS Thursday: UK and NetherlandsFriday: Ireland, Czech RepublicSaturday: Latvia, Cyprus, Malta, Slovakia, Italy and Czech RepublicSunday: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and SwedenResults from 2000 GMT Sunday Q&A: European elections 2009 Euro election country-by-country Euro election graphical results In pictures: Voting in style | EU PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS Thursday: UK and NetherlandsFriday: Ireland, Czech RepublicSaturday: Latvia, Cyprus, Malta, Slovakia, Italy and Czech RepublicSunday: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and SwedenResults from 2000 GMT Sunday Q&A: European elections 2009 Euro election country-by-country Euro election graphical results In pictures: Voting in style |
| Mr Sarkozy and France's first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy voted at a polling station in Paris. | Mr Sarkozy and France's first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy voted at a polling station in Paris. |
| Voting in Madrid alongside his wife, Mr Zapatero sounded optimistic: "On this occasion, I vote for the European project. That great project that is Europe which has given us a lot of stability. And at this point it has a future full of opportunities for all Spaniards." | Voting in Madrid alongside his wife, Mr Zapatero sounded optimistic: "On this occasion, I vote for the European project. That great project that is Europe which has given us a lot of stability. And at this point it has a future full of opportunities for all Spaniards." |
| But analysts say the global economic crisis could influence people's vote, and that disenchantment may be reflected in greater support for far-right parties. | But analysts say the global economic crisis could influence people's vote, and that disenchantment may be reflected in greater support for far-right parties. |
| Voters are choosing representatives mainly from their own national parties, many of which then join EU-wide groupings with similarly-minded parties from other countries. | Voters are choosing representatives mainly from their own national parties, many of which then join EU-wide groupings with similarly-minded parties from other countries. |
| The largest grouping has for the last five years been the centre-right EPP (288 seats out of a current 785), followed by the centre-left PES (216) and the liberal ALDE (100). | The largest grouping has for the last five years been the centre-right EPP (288 seats out of a current 785), followed by the centre-left PES (216) and the liberal ALDE (100). |
| Parliament is due to start releasing results at 2000 GMT after the last ballot station closes. | Parliament is due to start releasing results at 2000 GMT after the last ballot station closes. |
| Opinion polls before the election began suggested fewer than half the 375 million electorate would vote. | Opinion polls before the election began suggested fewer than half the 375 million electorate would vote. |
| In Britain it's Brown, but each country will have its own story to tell. Here's what to look for... Mark MardellBBC Europe editor Anticipation growing href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8088133.stm">UK Labour braces for results class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6556&edition=2&ttl=20090607180420">Send us your comments | |
| Beaches were packed as many Greeks opted to skip the ballot box altogether. | Beaches were packed as many Greeks opted to skip the ballot box altogether. |
| But some were determined to cast a protest vote against the government: "[I will] both vote and also go to the beach, both are possible, so that I can do my civic duty and also get a suntan," one voter told Reuters news agency. | But some were determined to cast a protest vote against the government: "[I will] both vote and also go to the beach, both are possible, so that I can do my civic duty and also get a suntan," one voter told Reuters news agency. |
| Greece is one of the countries where voters are expected to give the government a bloody nose. Others include the UK, Spain, Hungary and the Czech Republic. | Greece is one of the countries where voters are expected to give the government a bloody nose. Others include the UK, Spain, Hungary and the Czech Republic. |
| Treaty test | Treaty test |
| In Slovakia - which voted on Saturday - it was thought turnout might be as low as 14%, down three percentage points on its vote in 2004, the EU's lowest to date. | In Slovakia - which voted on Saturday - it was thought turnout might be as low as 14%, down three percentage points on its vote in 2004, the EU's lowest to date. |
| In Malta, on the other hand, it was expected to near 80%, and in Brussels, there were long queues outside a polling station on the Grand Place on Sunday. | In Malta, on the other hand, it was expected to near 80%, and in Brussels, there were long queues outside a polling station on the Grand Place on Sunday. |
| In Germany and France officials said the turnout figure half way through the day on Sunday was similar to that from 2004. | In Germany and France officials said the turnout figure half way through the day on Sunday was similar to that from 2004. |
| Turnout has fallen at each European election in the last 30 years, from nearly 62% in 1979 to 45.47% in 2004. | Turnout has fallen at each European election in the last 30 years, from nearly 62% in 1979 to 45.47% in 2004. |
| Saturday also saw voting in crisis-hit Latvia and in Cyprus, where only the Greek-speaking south of the island was able to vote. | Saturday also saw voting in crisis-hit Latvia and in Cyprus, where only the Greek-speaking south of the island was able to vote. |
| In Italy, which holds a second day of polling on Sunday, the election coincides with a series of scandals around Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's private life. | In Italy, which holds a second day of polling on Sunday, the election coincides with a series of scandals around Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's private life. |
| Britain voted on Thursday. In local elections held in some areas at the same time, support for the governing Labour Party collapsed, and many analysts are predicting a similar result in the European election. | Britain voted on Thursday. In local elections held in some areas at the same time, support for the governing Labour Party collapsed, and many analysts are predicting a similar result in the European election. |
| BBC COVERAGE HIGHLIGHTS full results for the UK and the rest of Europe from 2100 BST (2000 GMT) on SundayLive text commentary telling the story as results come inStreaming video of the BBC election night TV programme with David Dimbleby | BBC COVERAGE HIGHLIGHTS full results for the UK and the rest of Europe from 2100 BST (2000 GMT) on SundayLive text commentary telling the story as results come inStreaming video of the BBC election night TV programme with David Dimbleby |
| The votes were held following weeks of political turmoil and public anger over MPs' expenses claims. | The votes were held following weeks of political turmoil and public anger over MPs' expenses claims. |
| In Ireland, where the elections were held on Friday, the vote is seen as a key test ahead of a second referendum on the EU's controversial Lisbon Treaty, expected in October. | In Ireland, where the elections were held on Friday, the vote is seen as a key test ahead of a second referendum on the EU's controversial Lisbon Treaty, expected in October. |
| Irish voters rejected the treaty last year. | Irish voters rejected the treaty last year. |
| The European Commission has asked for an explanation from Dutch officials, who broke EU rules by releasing partial results early. | The European Commission has asked for an explanation from Dutch officials, who broke EU rules by releasing partial results early. |
| The results suggest that Geert Wilders' far-right Freedom Party (PVV) has come second in the polls and will get four of the 25 Dutch seats in the assembly. | The results suggest that Geert Wilders' far-right Freedom Party (PVV) has come second in the polls and will get four of the 25 Dutch seats in the assembly. |
| Mr Wilders is facing prosecution over anti-Islamic statements. | Mr Wilders is facing prosecution over anti-Islamic statements. |