Balance of power in new European Parliament remains unchanged

The Centre-right European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) won most – 214 out of 751 seats (28%) – in the future European Parliament at the elections held on Sunday, May 25 and will remain the largest party despite losing around 60 seats.

Trailing is Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament with 189 (25.17%), the results showed. The turnout was 43.09%.

The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso hailed the results saying political forces respresented in the European Commission “have overall won once again.”

“When assessing the results, the fact that this election follows the biggest financial, economic and ultimately social crisis in decades must be kept in mind. It is extremely important that the political forces that led and supported the essential steps in the Union’s joint crisis response, notably the political forces represented in the European Commission, have overall won once again,” Barroso said in a statement following the polls.

“Results show that a very solid and workable majority in the European Parliament is possible. These political forces do not agree on each and every policy detail, but they share a fundamental consensus for Europe that should now be reinforced,” he said.

Although the outcomes differ significantly between Member States, “conditions are there for a solid support for a European Union that remains united and open whilst seeking to be stronger. Standing together as Europeans is indispensable for Europe to shape a global order where we can defend our values and interests. This is the moment to come together and to define the Union’s way forward,” Barroso said.