Build-up and reaction to European election results

Posted at 22: 2322: 23Provisional results: SpainPosted at 22: 1522: 15Provisional results: BelgiumPosted at 22: 1522: 15Provisional results: EstoniaPosted at 22: 1522: 15Provisional results: Czech RepublicPosted at 22: 0422: 04Brexit Party leads in BritainIn Britain, with 100 of 373 counts complete, the brand new Brexit Party is in the lead with 31.9%. But it seems to have been a difficult election for the two largest parties, the Conservatives and Labour, who are down 12-14% each so far.It’s also been a good night for the pro-EU Liberal Democrats, which got just 6% of the vote in 2014 – and so far is on 12.5%.Posted at 21: 4021: 40Provisional results from EuropeBBCCopyright: BBCPosted at 21: 3621: 36Britain’s turnout below averageThe BBC is forecasting that British turnout is lower than the average – at about 37%. Earlier, the European Parliament said the Europe-wide turnout was around 51%.Posted at 21: 3021: 30Centre parties losing out to German GreensThe Greens have had good results in Finland and Sweden, France and Germany.In Germany, the Economist’s Berlin bureau chief cautions against the narrative of the rise of the far right. He points out that Germany’s two large centre parties lost votes not to the far-right AfD, but the Greens.Posted at 21: 2021: 20Follow the results here as they come inPosted at 21: 1621: 16Follow our separate UK results coverageNow that restrictions are lifted, our UK team is diving deep into the results as they happen.You can find the UK results live page here.But for the broader European view, this is the place to be.Posted at 21: 0421: 04What we know so farWelcome to our live coverage of the European Parliament elections across 28 member states.Broadcasting restrictions in the UK have now been lifted and official results are due to start arriving shortly. So here’s a summary of estimates and projections across Europe.First, the European Parliament’s projections show that the two biggest centre parties, the centre-right EPP and centre-left S&D, are set to lose their majority – dropping to less than half of all seats for the first time.BBCCopyright: BBCThe projections for the big groups, according to the European ParliamentImage caption: The projections for the big groups, according to the European ParliamentMeanwhile, the Greens have done rather well, according to the projections – potentially picking up 18 seats.On the nationalist right, the European groupings are expected to change from the last parliament and a new alliance will emerge. In France, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally may have topped the poll with a predicted 23.7% of the vote. And in Austria, despite a major political scandal just a week before the vote, the far-right Freedom Party won a projected 17.5% – down just a couple of percentage points.Posted at 20: 5320: 53Report: Greek PM may call snap electionsReutersWe reported earlier that the conservatives were celebrating in Greece, in the belief that they have beaten the ruling left-wing Syriza party.Now Reuters news agency cites an anonymous source in Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras party as saying he is likely to call snap elections in June. The leader of the conservative New Democracy party has called on Mr Tsipras to resign. Posted at 20: 4520: 45More on Romania’s voting issuesWe just mentioned Dutch police being called in to deal with Romanian voters who saw the doors close on them before they could vote at their embassy in The Hague. Here are some of the scenes around the rest of Europe, including the UK, which shows the long queues outside Romanian embassies. This wasn’t just a European election but a referendum that Romania’s ruling party was not happy about.Video contentVideo caption: European Elections 2019: Romanians across Europe queue at polling stationsEuropean Elections 2019: Romanians across Europe queue at polling stationsPosted at 20: 4020: 40Official results coming soonA reminder that the BBC – like all UK broadcasters – is restricted on what we can report while polls are open.That all changes at 22: 00 BST (23: 00 CET), when exit polls and estimates vanish and official results start pouring in.We’ll be covering the developments as they happen.Posted at 20: 3720: 37Dutch police called in as Romanian voters get angryRomanians have been voting in big numbers across Europe – and the queues have been big outside embassies in Paris, London, Brussels and several other cities. In The Hague things got angry when voters were turned away outside the Romanian embassy, NOS journalist Robert Bas reports.Hundreds were still waiting outside when the doors were shut at 21: 00 local time – so some voters climbed the fences and police had to be called. According to Robert Bas, voters shouted “thieves, thieves” as they banged on the doors of the embassy, complaining that the Romanian government was making it as hard as possible to vote. Romanians were not just voting in European elections, but in a referendum called by the president against the ruling social democrat PSD’s justice reforms. The government has been fearing a bloody nose.Posted at 20: 1720: 17Keeping an eye out for a Green surgeCall it the Greta Thunberg effect – or just concern about the environment – but the experts have been looking out for changes in the Green vote across Europe.In Germany, this Green MEP is very excited about the exit polls she’s seen:And look how happy the Greens in France are – the leader of the Green EELV party has tweeted this video of some very happy supporters:Posted at 19: 5119: 51Greek PM must resign, says opposition leaderEPACopyright: EPAConservative leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis casts his voteImage caption: Conservative leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis casts his voteGreece’s conservative opposition leader, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is celebrating – insisting he has beaten Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in the European Parliament vote.You may remember that left-wing leader Alexis Tsipras has been in power since the bailout crisis came to a head in 2015. “It is obvious that the Greek people have withdrawn their
confidence in this government,” says Mr Mitsotakis, leader of New Democracy.Greeks are set to vote later this year, and for Mr Mitsotakis that can’t come soon enough.”The prime minister must assume
his responsibilities. He must resign and the country should hold
national elections as soon as possible.”