The previous governing majority of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), centre-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and centrist group Renew is to remain intact, with a margin of about 40 votes to spare. Results from 26 EU countries show the three centre groupings won about 400 of the available 720 seats in the next European Parliament. The ballot marked the election of about 160 MEPs who belong to right-wing nationalist, populist, ultra-conservative, and far-right parties. At present, Ms Meloni’s party is one of the main players in the hard-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), which won 73 seats. Ms Le Pen’s expanded National Rally party is the main force in the far-right Identity and Democracy group, which won 58 seats.

Source: The Irish Times June 11, 2024 05:19 UTC