Dutch EP elections: higher voter turnout, anti-EU protest voting 

Overall, the Christian-Democrats party of Prime Minister Balkenende has managed to remain the biggest party, just ahead of the Social-Democrats. The centre-liberal VVD has lost two seats (from six to four), the third coalition partner left-liberal D66 holds on to one seat (losing one). The Greens (Groen Links) lost two seats (from four) and SP (leftist socialists) and Christen Unie/SGP (religious-conservative) got two seats each.

The party of EU whistleblower Paul van Buitenen (Europa Transparant) has produced a surprise comparable to that achieved by the late Pim Fortuyn a few years ago. Mr van Buitenen managed to mobilise voter protest against fraud at EU level without having a real party or money for a real campaign. His party will get two seats in the European Parliament, where he is likely to settle in a future eurosceptics' group.

Results of the Dutch EP elections (27 seats):

The British, who also voted on Thursday 10 June, have decided not to publish any results yet. However in the local elections held on the same day, Labour received a terrible blow coming only third after the Conservatives and the winning Liberal Democrats. The Tories are not expected to benefit significantly from this Labour weakness in the European elections as most of their potential gains are set to go to the rightist UK Independence Party.