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EP voting underway in Czech Republic and Ireland

Published 11 June 2004 - Updated 29 January 2010
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The Czech Republic is the first of the new Member States to vote in the current European Parliament elections on 11 June. Ireland is also holding the EP elections today.

Background: 
In the Czech Republic, citizens will vote over two days to elect 24 MEPs. According to preliminary polls, the eurosceptic Civic Democratic Party (ODS) stands to secure a relative majority with some 25 per cent of the vote. Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla's ruling Social Democrats are projected to win around ten per cent of the vote. Turnout is projected to be among the lowest in the EU.

Ireland's three million registered voters will cast their ballot for 13 MEPs and will simultaneously elect local councillors and vote in a constitutional referendum on the so-called "citizen babies" (ie whether the country should extend Irish citizenship rights automatically to babies born to foreign nationals).

The Italians, the Latvians and the Maltese will vote on 12 June, and the rest of the EU Member States will follow suit on 13 June. Around 15,000 candidates are running for 732 seats in the new European Parliament.

 

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