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France National Front 'set for victory', says PM Valls Eurosceptic 'earthquake' rocks EU elections
(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. 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".
With polls still open in some European Union countries, he said exit polls showed the Front winning, and his own Socialist Party badly defeated. Eurosceptic parties appeared also to have made big gains in other countries, coming first in Denmark and Greece.
Germany, Poland and Spain are among 21 countries voting on the final day of European Parliament elections. The centre-right EPP looked set to be the biggest bloc in parliament.
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 - up on last time.
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%. 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
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".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 Chris 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?
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.
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.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.
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.
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.