Yannick Jadot, leader of the French green party, celebrated after his party won around 13 per cent of the vote STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/GETTY IMAGESGreen parties made strong gains in the European parliament elections yesterday as support surged in western European states. Party leaders said that the European Union was experiencing a “green wave” and with strong showings in France and Germany, the movement is projected to hold up to 70 seats in the 751-seat European parliament, up from 52 in 2014. Three exit polls showed France’s Europe Ecology — The Greens winning about 13 per cent of the vote, placing them third behind Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally and President Macron’s centrist party and up from 9 per cent in the 2014 elections. If polling proves correct it also places the Greens above the traditional centre-right Republicans and the Socialists. “We are witnessing a green European wave…

Source: The Times May 27, 2019 04:43 UTC