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Eurosceptic 'earthquake' rocks EU elections Eurosceptic 'earthquake' rocks EU elections
(35 minutes later)
The 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".The 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 parties appeared also to have made big gains in other countries, coming first in Denmark and Greece.Eurosceptic parties appeared also to have made big gains in other countries, coming first in Denmark and Greece.
The centre-right EPP looked set to be the biggest bloc in parliament.The centre-right EPP looked set to be the biggest bloc in parliament.
Turnout in the election was 43.1%, according to provisional European Parliament figures - up on last time.Turnout in the election was 43.1%, according to provisional European Parliament figures - up on last time.
That would be the first time turnout had not fallen since the previous election - but would only be an improvement of 0.1%.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
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.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, 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. 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.
The hard-left group in parliament was set to make big gains, largely thanks to Syriza in Greece, gaining about 12 seats. UKIP leader Nigel Farage was predicting that his party would come first in Britain, saying: "The inevitability of European integration ends tonight."
'Vote-rigging' 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.
In France, the National Front (FN) leader Marine Le Pen said after seeing exit polls: "Clearly we are in the lead".
But a statement by her party accused the French government of "massive fraud" and "industrial scale" vote-rigging, saying Prime Minister Valls had tried to prevent the National Front winning "by the most odious means".
It said in many polling stations voters were given incorrect papers or did not get ballots that included the National Front.
Chris Morris, BBC News, BrusselsChris Morris, 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?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?
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.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.
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.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.
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 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 is the biggest exercise in multi-national democracy in the world. 'Vote-rigging'
The parliament's powers have expanded since the last election in 2009. In France, the National Front (FN) leader Marine Le Pen said after seeing exit polls: "Clearly we are in the lead".
MEPs now negotiate legislation with national government ministers in what is called "co-decision", before parliament votes on the laws. But a statement by her party accused the French government of "massive fraud" and "industrial scale" vote-rigging, saying Prime Minister Valls had tried to prevent the National Front winning "by the most odious means".
They have a say on budget areas including agriculture and regional aid. It said in many polling stations voters were given incorrect papers or did not get ballots that included the National Front.
In Belgium, voters are also choosing a new national government. The last election left the country which hosts the EU capital, Brussels, without a government for 18 months, until a three-party coalition could be put together. 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 751 seats are allocated in proportion to each country's population. 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 vote will affect the lives of the EU's 500 million citizens, and the chamber has much more power than it used to. 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.
It is a co-legislator, with government ministers from the EU's 28 member-states, in most policy areas.
One of the first tasks of the incoming parliament will be to elect a new president of the European Commission, the EU's executive body.
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.