From EURONEWS
The centre-right has come out on top in Europe after EU elections marked by a record low turnout and harsh lessons for ruling parties in some countries.
The European People’s Party delivered a heavy blow to the Socialists and will remain the main group in parliament. The conservatives have strengthened their ability to set the agenda in the assembly that passes many of the European Union’s laws and its budget.
Results show the centre right as an overall winner in the European Parliament elections, set to gain 263 out of the parliament’s 736 seats.
The Socialist grouping the PSE gains 161 seats.
The alliance of Democrats and Liberals wins 80 seats and the Greens, coming fourth, have 52 seats.
The governing centre-right groups won in Germany, France, Poland and Italy, and Green parties did well on a bad night for the Socialists, who failed to cash in on widespread discontent with Europe’s handling of the global economic crisis.
Turnout was 42.85% percent, a record low. Results showed ruling parties beaten or heading for defeat in some of the countries worst hit by the crisis — Britain, Ireland, Latvia, Greece, Hungary, Bulgaria, Spain and Portugal.
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