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| France National Front 'set for victory', says PM Valls | France National Front 'set for victory', says PM Valls |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| France's Prime Minister Manuel Valls has declared a "political earthquake", saying the far-right National Front is heading for victory in EU elections. | France's Prime Minister Manuel Valls has declared a "political earthquake", saying the far-right National Front is heading for victory in EU elections. |
| With polls still open in some European Union countries, he said exit polls showed the Front winning, and his own Socialist Party badly defeated. | With polls still open in some European Union countries, he said exit polls showed the Front winning, and his own Socialist Party badly defeated. |
| Germany, Poland and Spain are among 21 countries voting on the final day of European Parliament elections. | Germany, Poland and Spain are among 21 countries voting on the final day of European Parliament elections. |
| First results will be announced after last polls close at 21:00 GMT. | First results will be announced after last polls close at 21:00 GMT. |
| Turnout in the election 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 2014 | |
| LIVE: Full coverage of results | |
| In France, the National Front (FN) leader Marine Le Pen said after seeing exit polls: "Clearly we are in the lead". | 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. | It said in many polling stations voters were given incorrect papers or did not get ballots that included the National Front. |
| Resentment widespread | Resentment widespread |
| The election is the biggest exercise in multi-national democracy in the world. | The election is the biggest exercise in multi-national democracy in the world. |
| The parliament's powers have expanded since the last election in 2009. | The parliament's powers have expanded since the last election in 2009. |
| MEPs now negotiate legislation with national government ministers in what is called "co-decision", before parliament votes on the laws. | MEPs now negotiate legislation with national government ministers in what is called "co-decision", before parliament votes on the laws. |
| They have a say on budget areas including agriculture and regional aid. | They have a say on budget areas including agriculture and regional aid. |
| Greece, which had to be bailed out by the EU and other lenders over its debts, was one of the first countries to open polling stations on Sunday. | Greece, which had to be bailed out by the EU and other lenders over its debts, was one of the first countries to open polling stations on Sunday. |
| Voting is compulsory in Greece, where there is widespread resentment at the austerity enforced as a condition for the bailout. | Voting is compulsory in Greece, where there is widespread resentment at the austerity enforced as a condition for the bailout. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Croatians are voting in their second EU election in just over a year. Croatia held early elections in April 2013, in anticipation of joining the EU on 1 July. | Croatians are voting in their second EU election in just over a year. Croatia held early elections in April 2013, in anticipation of joining the EU on 1 July. |
| The 751 seats are allocated in proportion to each country's population. | The 751 seats are allocated in proportion to each country's population. |
| 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 vote will affect the lives of the EU's 500 million citizens, and the chamber has much more power than it used to. |
| It is a co-legislator, with government ministers from the EU's 28 member-states, in most policy areas. | 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. | 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. |