Elections!

[Liep]

2 out of the 13 of the new Danish MEPs are pro-EU, maybe only 1 as it's quite close right now. The safe one is a socialists.

[Sheilbh]

Because we (Spain, and I guess that it'll be similar in Portugal) are, on practical terms, a two party system with a number of secondary characters around. This system is at its historical lowest at this moment and PPSOE still get the most votes by far.

But other countries have that. Ireland and Italy historically split around 70-80% of the vote between two parties (or coalitions). In the last elections they had that went down to around 50%. I suppose I'm a little baffled how in Spain the two parties have held up so well. It's tough to imagine a party with deeper roots than Fianna Fail, but are they maybe more important institutions?

Edit: Apparently a protest party set up a few months before the elections by a leftie TV pundit/professor, with ponytail and everything, is getting 5 MPs.

Well that's a start

That's Flanby for you! Trying to play the FN to weaken the right-wing backfired this time again.

It's a European trend though. Hollande's just an accelerant, like pouring petrol on a house fire

[Liep]

So what's up with the NDP in Germany?

[Liep]

Also, 0.1% bigger turnout for Europe.

[Sheilbh]

Several countries have disputed the European Parliament's claim that the largest party's candidate must become the next Commission President. But the Parliament groups keep on saying it anyway - personally I think it's laughable when the biggest party has a total of 28% seats

Anyway Juncker the candidate of that group has said he feels 'entitled' to the Presidency. He was asked how he'd help UK business (by a UK journalist) replied 'I'm not a businessman', the journo 'but I am'. Juncker replied 'I won the election' and that future questions would only be in French or German. It's extraordinary that we're seeing Eurosceptic populism in the face of such charm

[Sheilbh]

So what's up with the NDP in Germany?

I think the Court ruled that the 5% minimum was unconstitutional, so there's none for this election. From what I've read because of this Pirates, NDP, animal rights activists and others are likely to win EP seats.

[Duque de Bragança]

Iberians! Why's there not been any populist response in Spain and Portugal? Other crisis countries have thrown out long-governing parties (Greece, Ireland) or turned to new ones (Greece, Italy) and non-crisis European countries in general have seen a rise of left and right populists. Why hasn't that happened in Spain and Portugal?

Portugal is more of 2.5 party system when the right-wing (CDS-PP) is in good shape.
Well the Portuguese voted for the socialists, and the Stalinists, sorry communists, are a bit higher than last time (12%). The centre-right and right is on decline. The results for the Portuguese abroad are not yet known. Usually, it helps the centre-right since the socialists try to restrict their vote. Thing is, they don't vote that much though, I was like the only voter at the Consulate with many civil servants on voting day waiting for electors to show up.

[Sheilbh]

As a right-wing journo just posted on Twitter, UKIP celebrating their victory (it looks like they'll come first and may, may win an upcoming by-election too to get their first MP):

[Iormlund]

Because we (Spain, and I guess that it'll be similar in Portugal) are, on practical terms, a two party system with a number of secondary characters around. This system is at its historical lowest at this moment and PPSOE still get the most votes by far.

But other countries have that. Ireland and Italy historically split around 70-80% of the vote between two parties (or coalitions). In the last elections they had that went down to around 50%. I suppose I'm a little baffled how in Spain the two parties have held up so well. It's tough to imagine a party with deeper roots than Fianna Fail, but are they maybe more important institutions?

PP and PSOE have actually lost a third of their seats each. That been said, in a "regular" election things will probably get back to normal, since the constituency is country-wide for this one and this makes minor parties actually viable.

[Sheilbh]

The Lib Dems are collapsing they're expecting 0-2 MEPs by the end of the night, down from 11. Apparently they only lead in Orkney, Shetland and Gibraltar

Also interesting UKIP vote higher than Labour in Ed Miliband's constituency

But that demonstrated how well they're doing in the North eating into Labour's vote.

Edit:

PP and PSOE have actually lost a third of their seats each. That been said, in a "regular" election things will probably get back to normal, since the constituency is country-wide for this one and this makes minor parties actually viable.

In real election or Euros?

The Lib Dems are apparently in 5th behind the Greens nationwide and this is the first time ever the Tories aren't in 1st or 2nd place in an election

Edit: Also Scotland may get their first UKIP MEP.

[The Larch]

Because we (Spain, and I guess that it'll be similar in Portugal) are, on practical terms, a two party system with a number of secondary characters around. This system is at its historical lowest at this moment and PPSOE still get the most votes by far.

But other countries have that. Ireland and Italy historically split around 70-80% of the vote between two parties (or coalitions). In the last elections they had that went down to around 50%. I suppose I'm a little baffled how in Spain the two parties have held up so well. It's tough to imagine a party with deeper roots than Fianna Fail, but are they maybe more important institutions?

PP and PSOE have actually lost a third of their seats each. That been said, in a "regular" election things will probably get back to normal, since the constituency is country-wide for this one and this makes minor parties actually viable.

PP + PSOE have totalled 49% of the votes. The end of bipartidism!!!!!!!!1111111unounounouno 

[Agelastus]

Well, East Midlands has declared.

2 UKIP
2 Tory
1 Labour

Liberal Democrat kicked out; if I heard the figures correctly they polled less than the Greens.

Only a 33% turnout though; I was hoping for a little higher.

I find it interesting that despite the polls its not UKIP and Labour neck-and-neck but rather Labour and the Tories neck-and-neck with UKIP well ahead. I wonder if that will hold true as more results are released.

If Labour don't open some clear air between themselves and the Tories they'd have to consider it something of a failure, I would think(?)

[Sheilbh]

Well, East Midlands has declared.

Ah. That's where that returning officer came from

Liberal Democrat kicked out; if I heard the figures correctly they polled less than the Greens.

True for all three regions so far

I find it interesting that despite the polls its not UKIP and Labour neck-and-neck but rather Labour and the Tories neck-and-neck with UKIP well ahead. I wonder if that will hold true as more results are released.

If Labour don't open some clear air between themselves and the Tories they'd have to consider it something of a failure, I would think(?)

It won't. Scotland, Wales and London are still to declare which will open a gap between Labour and the Tories I imagine.

[Sheilbh]

A genuine tweet from a European commissioner:

#Spitzenkandidaten a game changer: downward voter turnout trend reversed!

The Spitzenkandidaten are the candidates of the groups in the EP for Commission President.

[Agelastus]

Well, East Midlands has declared.

Ah. That's where that returning officer came from

God, he was embarrassing...

Just had Salmond on talking about UKIPs "regressive policies" - isn't reversing four hundred years of history a regressive policy itself?

And Yorkshire and the Humber gives UKIP three seats

Liberal Democrats frozen out again.