Eurotopics.net

The Christian Democratic and Social Democratic groups in the European Parliament have suffered major losses in the European elections, while the Liberals and Greens made major gains. The Eurosceptic to right-wing nationalist spectrum also gained ground. This is the overall picture that emerges on the day after the elections, despite very different results in the individual member states. Commentators draw their first conclusions.

After the EU elections the era of the big parties in Germany, the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats, appears to have come to an end: not just the liberals and the eurosceptic and right-wing populists made huge gains, but also the Greens. Around a third of voters under thirty years of age voted for them. Commentators examine the causes for this Green surge.

France's far right under Marine le Pen has come first in the European elections, ahead of President Macron's list. Macron had promised he would do all he could to prevent the Rassemblement National from winning. Observers disagree as to the lessons the president should learn from the result.

The national conservative governing PiS party has won the European elections in Poland with over 42 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results. The opposition "European Coalition" trailed behind with roughly 39 percent. Polish media discuss the results with an eye to this autumn's parliamentary elections.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has announced that she will step aside as Conservative leader on 7 June, meaning that her days as prime minister are also numbered. The announcement came after she made another unsuccessful attempt to secure support for her Brexit deal. Her Conservative Party suffered a crushing defeat in the European elections yesterday. Europe's press discusses May's responsibility for events as they unfold.