NYT: European Voting Tilts Center-Right, Exit Polls Say - by Stephen Castle

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European Voting Tilts Center-Right, Exit Polls Say - by Stephen Castle

Voters have punished several ruling European governments for the economic crisis, while fringe parties — rather than the mainstream left — have made clearest headway, according to exit polls and early results from Europe-wide elections on Sunday. At the end of four days of voting from the Mediterranean to near the Arctic Circle, the center-right looked likely to keep its majority in the European Parliament, an institution with growing powers but a low profile in the 27-nation European Union. Exit polls from Germany’s ZDF broadcaster put Chancellor Angela Merkel’s alliance of center-right parties on 38 percent — down 6.5 percent on the last elections in 2004 — with their coalition Social Democrat partners on 21.5 percent, unchanged from five years ago.

Before votes were cast, a survey called “predict09” estimated that the center-right will be the largest group in the new European Parliament, with approximately 262 seats, the Socialist group will win approximately 194 seats, and the Liberal bloc will secure approximately 82 seats.In terms of policy, from the environment to consumer rights, the European Parliament has equal power with national governments to amend new laws implemented across the bloc.