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| European voters punish the left | European voters punish the left |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| Centre-right parties have done well in elections to the European Parliament at the expense of the left, according to exit polls and initial results. | Centre-right parties have done well in elections to the European Parliament at the expense of the left, according to exit polls and initial results. |
| The parliament's 736 seats are up for grabs. Preliminary figures suggest the lowest-ever turnout, at 43.55%. | The parliament's 736 seats are up for grabs. Preliminary figures suggest the lowest-ever turnout, at 43.55%. |
| BBC correspondents say the figures will dent the EU's credibility. | BBC correspondents say the figures will dent the EU's credibility. |
| Centre-left parties are projected to have lost almost a quarter of their seats, while the centre-right is only slightly down. | Centre-left parties are projected to have lost almost a quarter of their seats, while the centre-right is only slightly down. |
| Some smaller groupings such as the Greens have gained ground, while the third largest group in the parliament, the Liberals, lost seats. | Some smaller groupings such as the Greens have gained ground, while the third largest group in the parliament, the Liberals, lost seats. |
| 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 Sweden UK far right wins first seat Q&A: European elections 2009 Euro election country-by-country Euro election graphical results | 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 Sweden UK far right wins first seat Q&A: European elections 2009 Euro election country-by-country Euro election graphical results |
| The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Brussels says it looks as if the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) will continue to hold power in the parliament. | The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Brussels says it looks as if the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) will continue to hold power in the parliament. |
| Jose Manuel Barroso, who seems set for a second term as European Commission president following the centre-right success, thanked voters and assured them their voices would be heard. | Jose Manuel Barroso, who seems set for a second term as European Commission president following the centre-right success, thanked voters and assured them their voices would be heard. |
| "Overall, the results are an undeniable victory for those parties and candidates that support the European project and want to see the European Union delivering policy responses to their everyday concerns," he said. | "Overall, the results are an undeniable victory for those parties and candidates that support the European project and want to see the European Union delivering policy responses to their everyday concerns," he said. |
| Socialist leader Martin Schulz said his group's defeat would be analysed. | Socialist leader Martin Schulz said his group's defeat would be analysed. |
| "It's a sad evening for social democracy in Europe. We are particularly disappointed, [it is] a bitter evening for us," he said. | "It's a sad evening for social democracy in Europe. We are particularly disappointed, [it is] a bitter evening for us," he said. |
| Government defeats | Government defeats |
| Fringe groups appear to have benefited, with far-right parties picking up seats in the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. The British National Party won its first UK seat. | Fringe groups appear to have benefited, with far-right parties picking up seats in the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. The British National Party won its first UK seat. |
| Hungary's Jobbik party was one of several far-right groups to do well | Hungary's Jobbik party was one of several far-right groups to do well |
| Several governments battling the economic downturn look set for a heavy defeat, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels. | Several governments battling the economic downturn look set for a heavy defeat, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels. |
| However, governing parties in France and Germany appear to have done relatively well despite the crisis. In partial results so far: | However, governing parties in France and Germany appear to have done relatively well despite the crisis. In partial results so far: |
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| Voters have been choosing representatives mainly from their own national parties, many of which then join EU-wide groupings with similarly-minded parties from other countries. | Voters have been 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). |
| Provisional figures released by the EU suggested turnout was at an all-time low in some countries, including France (40.5%) and Germany (42.2%). | Provisional figures released by the EU suggested turnout was at an all-time low in some countries, including France (40.5%) and Germany (42.2%). |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Have you voted? What do you want to see from the new EU Parliament? You can send us your views using the form below: | Have you voted? What do you want to see from the new EU Parliament? You can send us your views using the form below: |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |