Right reigns in EU parliament
Centre- and far-right parties across Europe emerge as clearest winners in new European parliament
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Monday, 08, Jun 2009 11:09
Centre- and far-right parties across Europe have emerged as the clearest winners in the new European parliament voted in last night.
As turnout slipped to 43.1 per cent across the continent, traditionally socialist parties were the biggest losers, including Labour in the UK.
The centre-right ruling parties in France and Italy were able to record strong results despite being in power as the global recession struck.
According to the latest figures the group of the European People's Party and European Democrats (EPP-ED) kept up its control in the European parliament with a 36.3 per cent share of seats, down one per cent.
The Socialist group suffered a six per cent fall in MEPs to 21.6 per cent, however, with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe down at 11 per cent and the Greens up 1.4 per cent to 6.9 per cent.
Smaller, mostly far-right, anti-immigration parties, were the main beneficiaries, with the 'other' grouping gaining 90 seats.
As well as the British National party winning two seats in the UK, far-right parties won seats in Austria, Denmark, Hungary, the Netherlands and Slovakia.
"It's a sad evening for social democracy in Europe," said Socialist leader Martin Schulz.
"We are particularly disappointed, [it is] a bitter evening for us."
Despite the UK Labour party's woes, the parties of Nicolas Sarkozy, Silvio Berlusconi and Angela Merkel all performed well.
Graham Watson, leader of Liberal Democrat grouping commented: "People don't want a return to socialism and that's why the majority here will be a centre-right majority."