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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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EU Election Pounds Left

Low turnout across 27 nations leads to extremist gains

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(Newser) – The center-right won a clear victory in this weekend's European parliament elections, while a record low turnout helped far-right and extremist groups make gains across the 27-nation bloc, the BBC reports. The ruling conservative parties in France, Germany and Italy performed well, while in Britain Labor came in a dismal third behind an anti-EU party. The hard right picked up seats everywhere from Holland to Hungary.

The results strengthen the position of José Manuel Barroso, the Portuguese leader of the European Commission, who now seems assured of winning a second five-year term at the head of the Brussels executive branch. Turnout across the continent plunged to around 44%, despite the growing power of the union's legislature. "It's a sad evening for social democracy in Europe," said the leader of the parliament's leftist group.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, accompanied by his wife, Carla Bruni, casts his vote for the European elections in Paris yesterday.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, accompanied by his wife, Carla Bruni, casts his vote for the European elections in Paris yesterday.   (AP Photo/Philippe Wojazer, pool)
President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, from Portugal, is handed his ballot to vote in the European parliament elections yesterday at a school in Lisbon.
President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, from Portugal, is handed his ballot to vote in the European parliament elections yesterday at a school in Lisbon.   (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
Former Czech Republic President Vaclav Havel walks to a polling station to vote during the European Parliament elections in Prague on Friday.
Former Czech Republic President Vaclav Havel walks to a polling station to vote during the European Parliament elections in Prague on Friday.   (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen and his wife, Mary, cast their votes in local and European elections in Offaly, Ireland, on Friday.
Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen and his wife, Mary, cast their votes in local and European elections in Offaly, Ireland, on Friday.   (AP Photo/Niall Carson/-pa)
Britain elected its first extreme-right politician to the European Parliament, a development mainstream lawmakers blamed on the recession and a collapse of trust in major political parties.
Britain elected its first extreme-right politician to the European Parliament, a development mainstream lawmakers blamed on the recession and a collapse of trust in major political parties.   (AP Photo/Dave Thompson, PA)
Labor party supporters rally in Hamrun, Malta, yesterday.
Labor party supporters rally in Hamrun, Malta, yesterday.   (AP Photo/Lino Azzopardi)
Teen voter Noemi Letizia arrives at a polling station in Naples yesterday. Silvio Berlusconi's Freedom People's Party held a two-digit lead over its main center-left rival.
Teen voter Noemi Letizia arrives at a polling station in Naples yesterday. Silvio Berlusconi's Freedom People's Party held a two-digit lead over its main center-left rival.   (AP Photo/Franco Castano)
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12 comments
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mindgammon
Jun 8, 09 5:46 AM CDT
Good sign of the times.. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
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Thinker
Jun 8, 09 6:11 AM CDT
Low voter turnout means just the crazies vote. This will change when the real majority starts to experience the problems that the right wing brings. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
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IN RESPONSE:
Nwambe
Jun 8, 09 6:18 AM CDT
I don't know if that's entirely true - The last election in the United States did not fall that way, despite a thin margin voting the right-wing Republican Party out of office.
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IN RESPONSE:
Fondue
Jun 8, 09 8:51 AM CDT
Just shooting some numbers at you. Obama Biden -- 365 electoral votes. McCain Palin -- 173 electoral votes. That is a difference of 192. Hardly a thin margin. Popular vote: Obama Biden -- 69,498,215 (52.9%); McCain Palin -- 59,948,240 (45.7%). That’s a difference of 9,549,975 (7.2%). Now consider 2004. Bush Cheney -- 286 electoral. Kerry Edwards -- 251. A very thin difference of 35. The popular vote: Bush Cheney -- 62,040,610 (50.7%); Kerry Edwards -- 59,028,444 (48.3%). A difference of 3,012,166 (2.4%). When you compare the electoral maps of ‘04 and ‘08 it only appears that Bush won by a landslide in ‘04 and only appears that Obama squeaked by. You have to look at the numbers.
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
godawgs
Jun 8, 09 8:54 AM CDT
well you can tell yourself that. It seems that the right wingers are tired of the problems that the left has had to bring in the EU. It goes along with the saying if its that important then you should go out and vote. I wonder if the turnout would have been mentioned if the left wing parties would have stayed in power? At the last historic election we only had 54% of the population voiting. That is only 10% more then showed up to these election, so did only the crazies show up for the last election as well?
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