| Centre-right parties have retained control of the European Parliament in an election that ended with a record low turnout but could have brought much worse upsets for national governments.
Partial results showed the European People's Party would remain the main group in parliament, ahead of the Socialists, strengthening its ability to set the agenda in an assembly that passes many of the European Union's laws and its budget.
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 a record low of 43 per cent and governing parties suffered defeat in Ireland, Greece, Hungary, Bulgaria and Spain, according to exit polls and partial results.
Britain's ruling Labour Party was also expected to be defeated.
But EU leaders are likely to breathe a sigh of relief that far-right parties did not fare better, despite making gains in some countries, and the 736-seat parliament remains stable.
"I don't expect any major difficulties in decision-making. The composition of this parliament will not be significantly different from the previous one," EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said.
The victory of centre-right forces is likely to help Jose Manuel Barroso, a conservative, win a new term as president of the EU's executive European Commission - a post that requires the Parliament's approval.
Read the rest of the article at ABC News Online
Video: EU swings to the right (ABC News)
Source: ABC News Online
Published: Monday, June 8
Photo: European Union | 
