Europe's political landscape has shifted rightward as voters across the 27-member bloc cast ballots in the European Parliament elections.
While centrist parties retained the largest share of seats, far-right and Euroskeptic groups made notable gains, signaling a growing challenge to the pro-European establishment.
The center-right European People's Party (EPP) is projected to remain the largest group with 189 seats, followed by the Socialists and Democrats (135) and Renew Europe (80).
However, the far-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Identity and Democracy (ID) groups are expected to win 72 and 58 seats respectively, reflecting a surge in support for nationalist and anti-immigration platforms.
Key National Results
In France, Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) dominated with 31.5% of the vote, more than double President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party at 15.2%.
Macron responded by dissolving the National Assembly and calling a snap election, a move Le Pen welcomed as the far right being "ready to take power."
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni saw her Brothers of Italy party lead with 28%, ahead of the Democratic Party at 23%.
Meloni, who chairs the ECR group, has moderated some positions since taking office but remains a key figure in the right-wing bloc.
Hungary's Viktor Orban secured 43.7% with his Fidesz-KDNP coalition, though this marked a 10% drop from 2019.
The opposition Tisza party, led by Peter Magyar, gained 30.7%.
Orban's party remains politically isolated in Brussels after being suspended from the EPP and rejected by the ECR.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo resigned after his Open VLD party suffered a disastrous defeat, gaining only 5.8% in the European vote.
The far-right Vlaams Belang and Flemish nationalist N-VA were nearly tied at 14.8% and 14.2% respectively.
In Spain, the conservative Popular Party (PP) overtook the Socialists with 33.2%, a significant increase from 20.35% in 2019.
The far-right Vox party nearly doubled its share to 10.4%.
Portugal's center-left Socialist Party (PS) narrowly led the center-right Democratic Alliance (AD) with 31.4% versus 30.6%.
Coalition Dynamics and Reactions
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, whose EPP is projected to lose only six seats, called the results a success for the political mainstream.
"No majority can be formed without the EPP," she said, pledging to deliver "a Europe that delivers."
EPP chair Manfred Weber urged mainstream parties to join a "pro-European, pro-democratic alliance" to shut out the far right.
However, ECR vice-president Assita Kanko argued that the strong far-right showings reflected voter neglect and said her group hopes to join the governing majority.
Green group representative Philippe Lamberts acknowledged the exit poll was "not a victory" for his movement, which is set to lose seats.
He warned against "embracing the various flavors of the far right" in coalition talks.
Turnout was estimated at 51%, the highest since 1994, indicating heightened voter engagement amid the rightward trend.
