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.