Elections in Europe result in a more powerful conservative bloc.
The far-right political party, the AfD, gained significant power in Germany, amassing over 16% votes, as reported by ARD and ZDF. In France, Le Pen's party, RN (Rassemblement National), surpassed expectations, receiving an astonishing 32% of the votes, nearly double the amount garnered by Macron's list, Renaissance. Similarly, right-wing populists in Austria have taken the lead with 27%, according to projections.
French President Emmanuel Macron described the outcome as a setback for all pro-Europeans. He announced plans for holding parliamentary elections on the 30th of June.
Following these elections, the far-right faction in the European Parliament will be able to cement its position even further. The EPP, the largest political formation, led by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, claimed victory for the bourgeois camp in Brussels. She pledged to create a protective barrier against left- and right-wing extremists. Von der Leyen is hopeful for re-election as the head of the Commission for another five-year term.
Based on forecasts for 15 member states, the EPP is expected to secure 186 of the 720 seats in the revamped European Parliament (previously 176). The second-largest faction, Social Democrats, have projected 133 seats (previously 139). The Liberal and Green parties, however, experienced a significant setback.
The ECR faction, which includes the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's party, may see a slight increase in their number of deputies, rising to 70 seats (previously 69). This number could potentially grow higher if the votes in Italy are taken into account.
The Identität und Demokratie (ID) far-right faction is growing from 49 to 60 seats, with Le Pen's right-wing populists and the Austrian FPO both being part of it. The AfD recently suffered exclusion from this faction due to downplaying remarks made by Maximilian Krah, the leading candidate, about the SS. Krah and fellow AfD deputy Petr Bystron are now under investigation for potential Russian influence.
In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders' right-wing populist party, the Party for Freedom (PVV), secured the second-highest votes at 17.7%. The alliance of Greens and Left, spearheaded by former EU Commissioner Frans Timmermans, is set to win, with a projected 21.6% according to forecasts.
The votes were cast for the European Parliament on Thursday, marking the beginning of the European elections. These polls come amidst ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Voters are also expressing concerns over climate change, social security, and migration.
A total of over 360 million Europeans were called to participate in this electoral process. The preliminary turnout rates suggest that it was about 51% across the EU, similar to the figures from 2019. Germany's turnout was higher, estimated at approximately 65%, according to the broadcasters.
