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| European elections 2019: Power blocs lose grip on parliament | European elections 2019: Power blocs lose grip on parliament |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The big centre-right and centre-left blocs in the European Parliament have lost their combined majority amid an increase in support for liberals, the Greens and nationalists. | The big centre-right and centre-left blocs in the European Parliament have lost their combined majority amid an increase in support for liberals, the Greens and nationalists. |
| Pro-EU parties are still expected to be in a majority but the traditional blocs will need to seek new alliances. | Pro-EU parties are still expected to be in a majority but the traditional blocs will need to seek new alliances. |
| The liberals and Greens had a good night, while nationalists were victorious in Italy, France and the UK. | The liberals and Greens had a good night, while nationalists were victorious in Italy, France and the UK. |
| Turnout was the highest for 20 years, bucking decades of decline. | Turnout was the highest for 20 years, bucking decades of decline. |
| Although populist and far-right parties gained ground in some countries, they fell short of the very significant gains some had predicted. | Although populist and far-right parties gained ground in some countries, they fell short of the very significant gains some had predicted. |
| The centre-right European People's Party (EPP) remains the largest bloc and analysts say it is likely to form a grand coalition with the Socialists and Democrats bloc, with support from liberals and the Greens. | The centre-right European People's Party (EPP) remains the largest bloc and analysts say it is likely to form a grand coalition with the Socialists and Democrats bloc, with support from liberals and the Greens. |
| In the UK, the newly-formed Brexit Party claimed a big victory, and a strong performance by the Liberal Democrats came amid massive losses for the Conservatives and Labour. | In the UK, the newly-formed Brexit Party claimed a big victory, and a strong performance by the Liberal Democrats came amid massive losses for the Conservatives and Labour. |
| The turnout bucked a long trend of decline in voter numbers, rising to just under 51% of eligible voters across the 28 member states. | The turnout bucked a long trend of decline in voter numbers, rising to just under 51% of eligible voters across the 28 member states. |
| The European Parliament helps shape EU legislation and the results will play a big part in who gets the key jobs in the European Commission, the Union's executive. | The European Parliament helps shape EU legislation and the results will play a big part in who gets the key jobs in the European Commission, the Union's executive. |
| What do the results mean for the EU? | What do the results mean for the EU? |
| Based on current estimates, the previously dominant conservative EPP and Socialists and Democrats blocs will be unable to form a "grand coalition" in the EU parliament without support. | Based on current estimates, the previously dominant conservative EPP and Socialists and Democrats blocs will be unable to form a "grand coalition" in the EU parliament without support. |
| The EPP was projected to win 179 seats, down from 216 in 2014. The Socialists and Democrats looked set to drop to 150 seats from 191. | The EPP was projected to win 179 seats, down from 216 in 2014. The Socialists and Democrats looked set to drop to 150 seats from 191. |
| Pro-EU parties are still expected to hold a majority of seats however, largely due to gains made by the liberal ALDE bloc, and particularly a decision taken by the party of French President Emmanuel Macron to join the group. His Renaissance alliance was defeated by the far-right National Rally of Marine Le Pen. | Pro-EU parties are still expected to hold a majority of seats however, largely due to gains made by the liberal ALDE bloc, and particularly a decision taken by the party of French President Emmanuel Macron to join the group. His Renaissance alliance was defeated by the far-right National Rally of Marine Le Pen. |
| "For the first time in 40 years, the two classical parties, socialists and conservatives, will no longer have a majority," said Guy Verhofstadt, the leader of the ALDE. | "For the first time in 40 years, the two classical parties, socialists and conservatives, will no longer have a majority," said Guy Verhofstadt, the leader of the ALDE. |
| "It's clear this evening is a historical moment, because there will be a new balance of power in the European Parliament," he said. | "It's clear this evening is a historical moment, because there will be a new balance of power in the European Parliament," he said. |
| There were major successes for the Greens, with exit polls suggesting the group would jump from 50 to around 67 MEPs. | There were major successes for the Greens, with exit polls suggesting the group would jump from 50 to around 67 MEPs. |
| But gains for nationalist parties in Italy, France and elsewhere means a greater say for Eurosceptics who want to curb the EU's powers. | But gains for nationalist parties in Italy, France and elsewhere means a greater say for Eurosceptics who want to curb the EU's powers. |
| Matteo Salvini, who leads Italy's League party, has been working to establish an alliance of at least 12 parties, and his party set the tone winning more than 30% of the vote, according to partial results. | Matteo Salvini, who leads Italy's League party, has been working to establish an alliance of at least 12 parties, and his party set the tone winning more than 30% of the vote, according to partial results. |
| Beyond the status quo | Beyond the status quo |
| This outcome reflects a tendency already apparent in national elections all over Europe: rejection of the status quo. Look at the beating meted out to France's centre-right and centre-left, to Angela Merkel and her Social Democrat coalition partners, plus the slap in the face delivered to the UK's Conservative and Labour parties. | This outcome reflects a tendency already apparent in national elections all over Europe: rejection of the status quo. Look at the beating meted out to France's centre-right and centre-left, to Angela Merkel and her Social Democrat coalition partners, plus the slap in the face delivered to the UK's Conservative and Labour parties. |
| Europe's voters are looking elsewhere for answers. They're drawn to parties and political personalities they feel better represent their values and priorities. | Europe's voters are looking elsewhere for answers. They're drawn to parties and political personalities they feel better represent their values and priorities. |
| Some are attracted by the nationalist right, promising a crackdown on immigration and more power for national parliaments, rather than Brussels. Italy's firebrand Deputy PM Matteo Salvini is a successful example, as is Hungary's Viktor Orban. | Some are attracted by the nationalist right, promising a crackdown on immigration and more power for national parliaments, rather than Brussels. Italy's firebrand Deputy PM Matteo Salvini is a successful example, as is Hungary's Viktor Orban. |
| Other voters prefer a pro-European alternative, like the Green Party and liberal groups. They also performed well in these elections. | Other voters prefer a pro-European alternative, like the Green Party and liberal groups. They also performed well in these elections. |
| Who were the winners and losers? | Who were the winners and losers? |
| In Germany, both major centrist parties suffered. Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats dropped from 35% of the vote in 2014 to 28%, while the centre-left Social Democratic Union fell from 27% to 15.5%. | In Germany, both major centrist parties suffered. Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats dropped from 35% of the vote in 2014 to 28%, while the centre-left Social Democratic Union fell from 27% to 15.5%. |
| The right-wing populist Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) performed worse than expected - projected in exit polls to win 10.5% - while still improving on its first results in 2014. | The right-wing populist Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) performed worse than expected - projected in exit polls to win 10.5% - while still improving on its first results in 2014. |
| In the UK, the newly formed Brexit Party, led by Nigel Farage, secured about 32% of the vote, amid gains for the Liberal Democrats and significant losses for the Conservative and Labour parties. | In the UK, the newly formed Brexit Party, led by Nigel Farage, secured about 32% of the vote, amid gains for the Liberal Democrats and significant losses for the Conservative and Labour parties. |
| Amid mixed results for far-right parties across Europe, Ms Le Pen's National Rally party - formerly the National Front - was celebrating victory in France over Mr Macron's party, securing 24% of the vote to his 22.5%. | Amid mixed results for far-right parties across Europe, Ms Le Pen's National Rally party - formerly the National Front - was celebrating victory in France over Mr Macron's party, securing 24% of the vote to his 22.5%. |
| A presidential official described the outcome as a "disappointment" but "absolutely honourable" compared to previous results. | A presidential official described the outcome as a "disappointment" but "absolutely honourable" compared to previous results. |
| In Hungary, Viktor Orban, whose anti-immigration Fidesz party took 52% of the vote and 13 of the country's 21 seats, was also a big winner. | In Hungary, Viktor Orban, whose anti-immigration Fidesz party took 52% of the vote and 13 of the country's 21 seats, was also a big winner. |
| "We are small but we want to change Europe," Mr Orban said. He described the elections as "the beginning of a new era against migration". | "We are small but we want to change Europe," Mr Orban said. He described the elections as "the beginning of a new era against migration". |
| In Spain, the ruling Socialist party (PSOE) took a clear lead with 32.8% of the vote and 20 seats, while the far-right Vox party won just 6.2% and three seats - coming in fifth. | In Spain, the ruling Socialist party (PSOE) took a clear lead with 32.8% of the vote and 20 seats, while the far-right Vox party won just 6.2% and three seats - coming in fifth. |
| In Greece, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called for an early election after the opposition conservative New Democracy party won 33.5% of the votes to 20% for his Syriza party. | |
| The right-wing ruling Law and Justice party did well in Poland, winning 45% of the vote, and 27 of the country's 51 seats. | The right-wing ruling Law and Justice party did well in Poland, winning 45% of the vote, and 27 of the country's 51 seats. |
| Why was the turnout so high? | Why was the turnout so high? |
| EU citizens turned out to vote in the highest numbers for two decades, and significantly higher than the last elections in 2014, when fewer than 43% of eligible voters took part. | EU citizens turned out to vote in the highest numbers for two decades, and significantly higher than the last elections in 2014, when fewer than 43% of eligible voters took part. |
| Turnout in Hungary and Poland more than doubled on the previous poll, and Denmark hit a record 63%. | Turnout in Hungary and Poland more than doubled on the previous poll, and Denmark hit a record 63%. |
| Analysts attributed the high turnout to a range of factors including the rise of populist parties and increased climate change awareness. | Analysts attributed the high turnout to a range of factors including the rise of populist parties and increased climate change awareness. |
| How does the European Parliament work? | How does the European Parliament work? |
| It is the European Union's law-making body. | It is the European Union's law-making body. |
| It's made up of 751 members, called MEPs, who are directly elected by EU voters every five years. These MEPs - who sit in both Brussels and Strasbourg - represent the interests of citizens from the EU's 28 member states. | It's made up of 751 members, called MEPs, who are directly elected by EU voters every five years. These MEPs - who sit in both Brussels and Strasbourg - represent the interests of citizens from the EU's 28 member states. |
| One of the parliament's main legislative roles is scrutinising and passing laws proposed by the European Commission - the bureaucratic arm of the EU. | One of the parliament's main legislative roles is scrutinising and passing laws proposed by the European Commission - the bureaucratic arm of the EU. |
| It is also responsible for electing the president of the European Commission and approving the EU budget. | It is also responsible for electing the president of the European Commission and approving the EU budget. |
| The parliament is comprised of eight main groups that sit together in the chamber based on their political and ideological affiliations. | The parliament is comprised of eight main groups that sit together in the chamber based on their political and ideological affiliations. |