Far Right Dominates European Elections

European elections were a huge win for candidates and parties on the far right of continental politics.
The National Front in France and the UKIP in Britain won a large number of votes for their EU-centered candidates. The parties won 140 seats in the European Parliament, based in Brussels. There are 751 members in the legislative body.
In England, the UK Independence Party won 27 percent of the popular vote, which supporters are terming a “historic election.”
Party leader Nigel Farage called the results “the most extraordinary result in British politics for 100 years.”
The National Front in France took 25 percent of the vote total in that country. This support provides the nationalist party with 24 of the 74 French seats in Parliament.
Other countries in Europe also swung to nationalist candidates, including Denmark, where such candidates came in first place. Strong showings for those opposed to the European Union were also seen in Greece and Hungary.
Farage said, “Whether that makes a big difference in European politics remains to be seen, but it’s going to make a very big difference in domestic politics, particularly in the member states predominately in the north of Europe.”
The European umbrella group representing nationalist interests will hold the greatest number of seats in Parliament, at 212. Socialists will become the second-most powerful party, controlling 186 seats for this term.
Some political observers are terming this election a “political earthquake” that could radically alter immigration policy on the continent. Even the future of the Union itself could be in danger of being dissolved by the new faces in Brussels.
Spain is one of the few European nations where populist candidates came out ahead. Most of the victories there were won by smaller, newer parties.