Labour facing losses but BNP may win seat

[chemical-licker]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11...-far-right.html

Labour facing losses but BNP may win seat in European parliament as polls show other EU voters backing the far right

Europe was leaning to the right tonight as exit polls showed voters were backing conservative parties amid a global economic crisis and anti-Islamic sentiments.

The British National Party could win its first seat in the EU parliament if the results elsewhere follow in the UK.

It comes after the party won its first seat on a county council at Thursday's local elections.

Poll danger: Nick Griffin's British National Party could win their first European Parliament seat a seat if exit poll results elsewhere in Europe bare out in Britain

While official results for the elections to the European Parliament were not expected until late this evening or early tomorrow, the polls showed right-leaning governments edging the opposition in Germany, Italy, France, Belgium and elsewhere.

With most votes counted in Austria, the main far-right party was gaining strongly while the Social Democrats, the main party in the governing coalition, lost substantial ground.

The big winner was the rightist Freedom Party which, according to polls, more than doubled its strength over the 2004 elections to 13 per cent of the vote.

It campaigned on an anti-Islam platform, with posters proclaiming 'The Occident in Christian hands' and describing today as 'the day of reckoning.'

In the Netherlands, exit polls predicted the anti-Islamic party of Geert Wilders - who was banned from Britain earlier this year - would win more than 15 per cent of the country's votes, muscling in on the ruling alliance of Conservatives and Socialists.

Conservative opposition parties were tied or ahead in Spain and some smaller countries.

It appeared there had been a record low turnout across Europe of 43 per cent, with under 40 per cent in many countries, which analysts said was likely to favour extremist parties.

Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands and five other EU nations cast ballots over the past few days, while the rest of the 27-nation bloc voted today.

The EU parliament has evolved over five decades from a consultative legislature to one with the power to vote on or amend two-thirds of all EU laws.

It has 736 seats and lawmakers serve for five-year terms.

The parliament can also amend the EU budget - £100 billion this year - and approves candidates for the European Commission, the EU administration and the board of the European Central Bank.

For many, the Europe-wide elections were most important as a snapshot of national political sentiment.

High unemployment across Europe has increased voter dissatisfaction with mainstream national parties, and scepticism over the EU's power to help spur economic recovery.

In Ireland, exit polls showed the ruling Fianna Fail party could lose one of its four seats to a party that opposes the EU's Lisbon reform treaty, intended to streamline decision making in the Union now that it has 27 member states.

Irish voters rejected the treaty last year and their support is needed for the reforms to go into effect.

In Germany, exit polls showed Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives remained the strongest grouping in Germany but suffered losses in the vote, widely seen as a test of public sentiment before a national election in September.

In France, President Nicolas Sarkozy's conservative UMP party has steadily held the lead in polls, with the Socialist Party second.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi's Freedom People's Party held a two-digit lead over his main centre-left rival in the most recent polling despite a deep recession and a scandal over allegations he had an inappropriate relationship with an 18-year-old model.

Polls favoured left-leaning parties in some countries, such as Greece and Portugal.

Greek voters, angry with scandals and the economic crisis, were set to hand the opposition Socialists victory over the ruling New Democracy party.

Many Greek voters showed disappointment with mainstream politics by voting for smaller parties, or by casting blank ballots.

In Spain, where the recession has driven unemployment to 17.4 per cent, Europe's highest, a close race was expected between the ruling Socialists and the conservative opposition.

Poland's governing pro-business Civic Platform party was expected to claim around half of the country's 50 seats, followed by the conservative nationalist Law and Justice party - a shift to the right for Poland at the European parliament.

In Hungary, where the governing Socialist Party raised taxes and cut social programs in a deep financial crisis, the main centre-right opposition party, Fidesz, was slated to win at least 15 of 22 seats.

Jobbik, a far-right party accused by critics of racism and anti-Semitism, was expected to win one or two.

In Sweden, the Green Party was expected to increase its support dramatically.

The Pirate Party, which advocates shortening the duration of copyright protection and allowing noncommercial file-sharing between individuals, was expected to get one or two seats for the first time.

we are doomed

[stevewinn]

How do they know all this the results are not released until 22:00GMT.

[chemical-licker]

How do they know all this the results are not released until 22:00GMT.

you believe in democracy

[chemical-licker]

why are all the people counting the votes FAT? wonder if they eat the paper if they dont like what they see

[Black Red Devil]

It appeared there had been a record low turnout across Europe of 43 per cent, with under 40 per cent in many countries, which analysts said was likely to favour extremist parties.

High unemployment across Europe has increased voter dissatisfaction with mainstream national parties, and scepticism over the EU's power to help spur economic recovery.

The big winner was the rightist Freedom Party which, according to polls, more than doubled its strength over the 2004 elections to 13 per cent of the vote.

It campaigned on an anti-Islam platform, with posters proclaiming 'The Occident in Christian hands' and describing today as 'the day of reckoning.

In a nutshell. The low turnout has favoured the Right wing because they're the most vocal and antagonistic against the amount of immigration coming from the ME, but not only. Probably many neutrals didn't bother to vote, probably disillusioned with the current global situation. The fact that economically, most nations in the world are suffering, ends up making the situation worse for migrants, who cop the blame for taking the limited amount of work away from the locals.

The Right steps in with their nationalistic agenda and offers a solution, get rid of migrants.

[itsnotoutthere]

In a nutshell. The low turnout has favoured the Right wing because they're the most vocal and antagonistic against the amount of immigration coming from the ME, but not only. Probably many neutrals didn't bother to vote, probably disillusioned with the current global situation. The fact that economically, most nations in the world are suffering, ends up making the situation worse for migrants, who cop the blame for taking the limited amount of work away from the locals.

The Right steps in with their nationalistic agenda and offers a solution, get rid of migrants.

Well...it's a start

p.s. In case you hadn't noticed, this country is heading towards 3 million unemployed, there isn't a case for allowing even more migrants into this country.

Edited June 8, 2009 by itsnotoutthere

[Black Red Devil]

Well...it's a start

p.s. In case you hadn't noticed, this country is heading towards 3 million unemployed, there isn't a case for allowing even more migrants into this country.

I don't have a problem with stopping immigration. Its when its done by racist Nationalists like the Right Wing parties that it ends up raising a few eye brows. Considering the fact our countries went to war 60-70 years ago against a nation run by a Nationalist nut case who wanted to take over the world and eliminate all "inferior" races.

Edited June 8, 2009 by BlackRedLittleDevil

[itsnotoutthere]

I don't have a problem with stopping immigration. Its when its done by racist Nationalists like the Right Wing parties that it ends up raising a few eye brows. Considering the fact our countries went to war 60-70 years ago against a nation run by a Nationalist nut case who wanted to take over the world and eliminate all "inferior" races.

But thats the point. All the mainstream parties DO have a problem stopping immigration, in fact they even have a problem just talking about it. They would rather shy away & bury their heads in the sand.

[Black Red Devil]

But thats the point. All the mainstream parties DO have a problem stopping immigration, in fact they even have a problem just talking about it. They would rather shy away & bury their heads in the sand.

Yeah, look I agree with what you're saying. I just think Europeans are going down a dangerous track. Sounds like the 1930's revisited. Financial strife, recessions and Nationalists offering a solution.

[chemical-licker]

Yeah, look I agree with what you're saying. I just think Europeans are going down a dangerous track. Sounds like the 1930's revisited. Financial strife, recessions and Nationalists offering a solution.

nick griffin is not hitler, he is not an artist.

[Bill Hill]

well, I've long resigned myself things are only going to get worse, until people realize...

Then as per usual it'll be too late..

There's just too many deluded freaks around... "Ooooooh"