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Eurosceptic 'earthquake' rocks EU elections Eurosceptic 'earthquake' rocks EU elections
(about 2 hours later)
Marine Le Pen's National Front has come first in France's elections to the European Parliament according to exit polls, in what PM Manuel Valls has declared a "political earthquake". Eurosceptic and far-right parties have seized ground in elections to the European parliament, in what France's PM called a "political earthquake".
Eurosceptic parties appeared also to have made big gains in other countries, coming first in Denmark and Greece. While the French National Front and UK Independence Party both appear headed for first place, the three big centrist blocs in parliament all lost seats.
The centre-right EPP looked set to be the biggest bloc in parliament. The outcome means a greater say for those who want to cut back the EU's powers, or abolish it completely.
Turnout in the election was 43.1%, according to provisional European Parliament figures - up on last time. But EU supporters will be pleased that election turnout was slightly higher.
That would be the first time turnout had not fallen since the previous election - but would only be an improvement of 0.1%. It was 43.1%, according to provisional European Parliament figures. That would be the first time turnout had not fallen since the previous election - but would only be an improvement of 0.1%.
Vote 2014Vote 2014
LIVE: Full coverage of resultsLIVE: Full coverage of results
HighlightsHighlights
(based on exit polls/ provisional results) (based on exit polls/provisional results)
"The people have spoken loud and clear," a triumphant Marine Le Pen told cheering supporters at National Front (FN) party headquarters in Paris."The people have spoken loud and clear," a triumphant Marine Le Pen told cheering supporters at National Front (FN) party headquarters in Paris.
"They no longer want to be led by those outside our borders, by EU commissioners and technocrats who are unelected. They want to be protected from globalisation and take back the reins of their destiny.""They no longer want to be led by those outside our borders, by EU commissioners and technocrats who are unelected. They want to be protected from globalisation and take back the reins of their destiny."
Provisional results suggested the FN could win 25 European Parliament seats - a stunning increase on its three in 2009.Provisional results suggested the FN could win 25 European Parliament seats - a stunning increase on its three in 2009.
The party also issued an extraordinary statement accusing the government of vote-rigging.The party also issued an extraordinary statement accusing the government of vote-rigging.
Hard-left gainsHard-left gains
Across the board, the centre-right European People's Party was set to win 211 out of the 751 seats, with 28.1% across the bloc, according to estimated results issued by the European Parliament. That would make it the biggest group - but with more than 60 seats fewer than before.Across the board, the centre-right European People's Party was set to win 211 out of the 751 seats, with 28.1% across the bloc, according to estimated results issued by the European Parliament. That would make it the biggest group - but with more than 60 seats fewer than before.
That put it ahead of the Socialist group with 193 seats (25.7%), Liberals with 74 (9.9%) and Greens 58 (7.7%).That put it ahead of the Socialist group with 193 seats (25.7%), Liberals with 74 (9.9%) and Greens 58 (7.7%).
The right-wing Eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Democracy group, incorporating the UK Independence Party (UKIP), looked to have about the same number of seats as last time, but there looked set to be a rise in the number of non-attached right-wing MEPs boosting the Eurosceptic camp. EPP leader Jean-Claude Juncker insisted the majority of people had voted to be a part of Europe.
"The extreme right, contrary to what some of the media has said, did not win this election," he said.
"We will have a clear pro-European majority in this house," added the man who is the frontrunner to be the next president of the European Commission.
The Eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Democracy group, incorporating the UK Independence Party (UKIP), appeared to have about the same number of seats as last time, but there looked set to be a rise in the number of non-attached right-wing MEPs boosting the Eurosceptic camp.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage was predicting that his party would come first in Britain, saying: "The inevitability of European integration ends tonight."UKIP leader Nigel Farage was predicting that his party would come first in Britain, saying: "The inevitability of European integration ends tonight."
The anti-bailout hard-left group in parliament was set to make big gains, largely thanks to Syriza in Greece and United Left in Spain, gaining about 12 seats.The anti-bailout hard-left group in parliament was set to make big gains, largely thanks to Syriza in Greece and United Left in Spain, gaining about 12 seats.
Chris Morris, BBC News, Brussels Laurence Peter, BBC News, Brussels
At the moment the exit poll predictions in France are the most striking story on this election results night. Even the prime minister says the Front National is heading for victory - a political earthquake indeed. Is the UK about to follow suit on the political Richter scale? The latest provisional results confirm a big setback for the centre-right EPP bloc, which is on course to lose about 60 seats, despite still coming top overall.
Elsewhere exit polls suggest the radical left anti-austerity party Syriza has come first in the elections in Greece. While in Italy it looks set to be a close fight between the Democratic Party of the Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (running in his first national campaign) and Beppe Grillo's Five Star Movement. One of the big stories of the night is the surge in the number of "Others" and "Non-Inscrits" - that is, Eurosceptic MEPs who are independent of any of the existing party groups. There will be about 100 of them. So it will be fascinating to watch how some of the other Eurosceptic groups try to woo them.
So plenty of anti-establishment parties are poised to increase their share of the vote, as predicted. It could well make for a more interesting more rumbustious European parliament. Even so there will still be a clear pro-European majority. It is clear the UK Conservatives have a real fight on their hands to win allies for their reform agenda in Europe. The results so far show that their ECR group has lost seats - perhaps 10 or more. That is probably because of Conservative losses and UKIP gains in Britain.
The question for mainstream parties on the centre-right and the centre-left is how they intend to respond to the sense of dissatisfaction with "politics as usual" that many voters have clearly expressed. The election has delivered a big blow to the political establishment in Europe - the establishment that pursued austerity and bank bailouts, at great cost to millions of ordinary voters.
Martin Schulz, the former Socialist president of the European Parliament - said of the FN victory: "It's a bad day for the European Union, when a party with a racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic programme gets 25% of the vote."Martin Schulz, the former Socialist president of the European Parliament - said of the FN victory: "It's a bad day for the European Union, when a party with a racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic programme gets 25% of the vote."
The election is the biggest exercise in multi-national democracy in the world. The vote will affect the lives of the EU's 500 million citizens.The election is the biggest exercise in multi-national democracy in the world. The vote will affect the lives of the EU's 500 million citizens.
The parliament's powers have expanded since the last election in 2009, and it is hoping to have a decisive say in who gets the EU's top job, president of the European Commission.The parliament's powers have expanded since the last election in 2009, and it is hoping to have a decisive say in who gets the EU's top job, president of the European Commission.
The frontrunner for that will now be EPP candidate Jean-Claude Juncker - though that would need the approval national government leaders, which is by no means guaranteed, correspondents say.
You can follow full coverage with all the latest updates at bbc.co.uk/vote2014.You can follow full coverage with all the latest updates at bbc.co.uk/vote2014.