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Ciudadanos President Albert Rivera celebrates next to party candidates at their party seat in Madrid, Spain. EPA
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Far-right National Rally party leader Marine Le Penn speaks to media in Paris, France. EPA
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Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage reacts after the European Parliament election results for the UK South East Region are announced at the Civic Centre Southampton. AFP
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French President Emmanuel Macron kisses the head of a wellwisher after casting his ballot in Le Touquet, France. Reuters
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Italian Deputy Prime Minister and leader of far-right League party Matteo Salvini kisses a crucifix as he speaks during his European Parliament election night event in Milan, Italy. Reuters
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Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage waits to speak during the results in Southampton.. Reuters
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A Green Party candidate argues with a Brexit Party candidate after the European Parliament election results for the UK South East Region are announced at the Civic Centre, Southampton. AFP
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Far-right National Rally party leader Marine Le Penn speaks to media in Paris, France. AFP
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Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen, and his wife Solrun Loekke Rasmussen during an election party at Christiansborg in Copenhagen, Denmark. Reuters
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Swedish Green Party candidate Alice Bah Kuhnke and Per Bolund, Minister for Financial Markets and Housing, applaud at the party's election night watch party. Reuters
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Barcelona's Mayoress and candidate of Barcelona en Comu party Ada Colau speaks during a press conference in Barcelona, Spain. EPA
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Jeppe Kofod, leading candidate from The Danish Social Democrats for the European Parliament elections 2019 during the election party at Christiansborg in Copenhagen, Denmark. Reuters
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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban applauds following the preliminary results in Budapest, Hungary. Reuters
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Social Democrats top candidates Jytte Guteland, Johan Danielsson, Heléne Fritzon together with Prime Minister Stefan Lofven during the party's election night watch party in Stockholm, Sweden. Reuters
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Podemos candidate for Madrid's region Isa Serra speaks at their party seat in Madrid, Spain. EPA
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Leader of Spanish People's Party (PP), conservative Pablo Casado, centre, celebrates the election results with PP candidate to Madrid's regional government Isabel Diaz Ayuso and PP candidate to Madrid's mayoralty Jose Luis Martinez Almeida during an election night rally at the PP headquarters in Madrid. AFP
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Spanish far-right Vox party leader Santiago Abascal gives a speech at their party seat in Madrid. EPA
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Portugal Prime Minister and Socialist Party (PS) General-Secretary Antonio Costa, left, and and lead party candidate for the European Elections Pedro Marques attend a press conference in Lisbon, Portugal. EPA
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Social Democratic Party President and leader of the main opposition party Rui Rio attends to a press conference in Porto, Portugal. EPA
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Andrej Babis, the Czech Republic's Prime Minister and leader of the ANO ('Yes') movement, wears an election cap with slogan: 'Strong Czechia' as he reacts at the party headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic. EPA
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Socialist party (PSOE) candidate Josep Borrell and Spanish acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez embrace as they address the media in Madrid, Spain. Reuters
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Ciudadanos President Albert Rivera celebrates next to party candidates at their party seat in Madrid, Spain. EPA
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Far-right National Rally party leader Marine Le Penn speaks to media in Paris, France. EPA
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Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage reacts after the European Parliament election results for the UK South East Region are announced at the Civic Centre Southampton. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JWOTFI3FYFINVMO4LVJS4HSYBQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=c1eb3dc2fb0cf4d39ee6c6bbb4fba57ba0712d4f53677d1833d41274de7665aa&width=400&height=225)
French President Emmanuel Macron kisses the head of a wellwisher after casting his ballot in Le Touquet, France. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UYS6MW7SNH7Z3PDZBWSIE6PMAM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c6d4a13d59b588ff5e00938946094f0dd20699466e3baab073441fa8482cb6e6&width=400&height=225)
Italian Deputy Prime Minister and leader of far-right League party Matteo Salvini kisses a crucifix as he speaks during his European Parliament election night event in Milan, Italy. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N45TSBQATWRYDBQHK6WNVZCDFU.jpg?smart=true&auth=49871d3592cc871fbdb459e318e27913c10de3321f30f51dc56f77e91295eb73&width=400&height=225)
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage waits to speak during the results in Southampton.. Reuters
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A Green Party candidate argues with a Brexit Party candidate after the European Parliament election results for the UK South East Region are announced at the Civic Centre, Southampton. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XWVD2RRT6ZIMZEGTDSFD3ELFSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b0fe731385e1759bd41bb29a86043ffb4727c32f979bd9111614daaa7d2f8738&width=400&height=225)
Far-right National Rally party leader Marine Le Penn speaks to media in Paris, France. AFP
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Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen, and his wife Solrun Loekke Rasmussen during an election party at Christiansborg in Copenhagen, Denmark. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QOPSNYYZ2T57L3YGJA3MWVA2VM.jpg?smart=true&auth=0dafa18af8faeb36b2cdf7452ea3d3b94c45bbfa3ed2daeaa67b1853d5fb0aff&width=400&height=225)
Swedish Green Party candidate Alice Bah Kuhnke and Per Bolund, Minister for Financial Markets and Housing, applaud at the party's election night watch party. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PYWJNY4JFOY6AJROUSWVMWJ554.jpg?smart=true&auth=495cafa74bfe73425ad3d922af83a41c06b0b2212d460060e055d2dcc3da835b&width=400&height=225)
Barcelona's Mayoress and candidate of Barcelona en Comu party Ada Colau speaks during a press conference in Barcelona, Spain. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6UN3GA6RG6FGTUA6S63UFORQNY.jpg?smart=true&auth=45033cc7a9207026af10dbd2a216f988cbb287150489f702cc0f26a37695fff8&width=400&height=225)
Jeppe Kofod, leading candidate from The Danish Social Democrats for the European Parliament elections 2019 during the election party at Christiansborg in Copenhagen, Denmark. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XX4Z2KCCDLX6CF3HEM4OUQFMTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=02a62ff74952d7e86a0fb742bcc65719c8e0868dd1b8ff28869509f46d2f8972&width=400&height=225)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban applauds following the preliminary results in Budapest, Hungary. Reuters
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Social Democrats top candidates Jytte Guteland, Johan Danielsson, Heléne Fritzon together with Prime Minister Stefan Lofven during the party's election night watch party in Stockholm, Sweden. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4BOCFJ53FK5TE66PRB5ADPISPI.jpg?smart=true&auth=fa421f0ac24ca379efbd43d00f0a970916a0721623a80555b82325f8f3272488&width=400&height=225)
Podemos candidate for Madrid's region Isa Serra speaks at their party seat in Madrid, Spain. EPA
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Leader of Spanish People's Party (PP), conservative Pablo Casado, centre, celebrates the election results with PP candidate to Madrid's regional government Isabel Diaz Ayuso and PP candidate to Madrid's mayoralty Jose Luis Martinez Almeida during an election night rally at the PP headquarters in Madrid. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z6GRM52Q3MZLTZWHCL73XPKRZ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=6c613bd39ba0ec3aae16177daedead4bb54e3999d14052c2f2e2c41797117683&width=400&height=225)
Spanish far-right Vox party leader Santiago Abascal gives a speech at their party seat in Madrid. EPA
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Portugal Prime Minister and Socialist Party (PS) General-Secretary Antonio Costa, left, and and lead party candidate for the European Elections Pedro Marques attend a press conference in Lisbon, Portugal. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OXON5NKSXHUBNZWIWJJPKQJP7U.jpg?smart=true&auth=552fd1c37d6cf1ff2035845b0e0bc4487f093416331736a8f91761bf17b54790&width=400&height=225)
Social Democratic Party President and leader of the main opposition party Rui Rio attends to a press conference in Porto, Portugal. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ULLZGYHOA7QTTUIYP6YELCPKXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ce38ce4fb09ecd159d3a23990895ad963150ed54dd8d8dee54c84a1940dea79e&width=400&height=225)
Andrej Babis, the Czech Republic's Prime Minister and leader of the ANO ('Yes') movement, wears an election cap with slogan: 'Strong Czechia' as he reacts at the party headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3MCZKOO4ZI7VUVBTLRQCYAULPE.jpg?smart=true&auth=54fde491ce7a1d9efdc88d8af350bdab2d3e3ea8fed03ce379ae4cf8e0f81674&width=400&height=225)
Socialist party (PSOE) candidate Josep Borrell and Spanish acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez embrace as they address the media in Madrid, Spain. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KIQILP3664RNY7US7PHOROX3VU.jpg?smart=true&auth=0225274f30ac4b8ec77163cb728252892dbc743dfea741e5ee7c5ea6c3ef4999&width=400&height=225)
Ciudadanos President Albert Rivera celebrates next to party candidates at their party seat in Madrid, Spain. EPA
European elections: Loss of support for continent's traditional political powerhouses
French far-right tops European poll in blow to Emmanuel Macron, while UK’s Conservatives suffer heavy losses
![Paul Peachey](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fe927df22-fdf4-44df-947a-9065010fe9de.png?smart=true&auth=f1204981073e03b4884bac59806d49856bf49d3318eb9240d081b8ae29bd108a&width=70&height=70)
Paul Peachey
27 May, 2019
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