Early projections show major loss for first two parties in European Parliament

BRUSSELS, May 26 (KUNA) -- Preliminary results from 11 out of 28 European Union countries show anti-EU parties are projected to make some gains and the leading two parties, the European People's Party (EPP) and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) have suffered losses.
"This data allow us to present a first overview of how the European Parliament composition may look like base on this partial data," Jaume Duch, the spokesperson of the European Parliament, told a news conference.
He however added that this projection will evolve during the night.
EPP is projected to win 173 seats down from 217 in the outgoing EP which has a total of 751 members.
S&D is projected to get 147 seats down from 190 in the outgoing EP.
Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats together with Renaissance of French President Emmanuel Macron and with other new parties is projected to win 100 seats. The ALDE had 68 seats.
The two anti-EU groups, Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy seat numbers increased to to 56 from 42, and Europe of Nations and Freedom Group 57 from 37.
The Greens also made gains and projected to win 71 seats from 51 seats. The centre right European Conservative and Reformist Group is projected to win 58 down from 76 in the outgoing EP. (end) nk.bs