FACT BOX - Far-right wave sweeps European elections

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - Far-right parties have made significant gains in the EU parliamentary elections, although the mainstream parties retained control of the 705-member parliament.

The turnout in the European Parliament elections is predicted to be %48.8.

According to the latest data, Luxembourg holds the highest voter turnout with 82.3%, while Croatia has the lowest with 21.3%.

-Germany, France

According to the preliminary results, the center-right European People's Party, representing Germany's "Christian Democrats," won 184 seats. However, it needs a coalition to give Ursula von der Leyen a second term.

The Green Party/European Free Alliance lost about 20 seats and fell back to sixth position in the legislature by securing only 52. The Socialists and Democrats obtained 139 seats, the European Renewal Party got 80 seats, and the Left gained 36 seats. Also, 53 deputies did not affiliate with any groups within the European Parliament.

While the mainstream secured control, the bloc shifted significantly to the right, which would make it harder to pass legislation and decision-making could at times be paralyzed.

The elections shaping the EU for the next five years are also seen as a de facto referendum on the incumbent domestic governments.

That is why French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday dissolved the lower chamber of the French parliament, or the National Assembly, and called snap elections after the far-right National Rally inflicted a heavy defeat on his camp in European elections.

Like Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also suffered a stinging blow in the exit poll, as his Social Democrats scored 14%, while the mainstream Christian Democrats Party came top with 29.5% of the vote and the far-right Alternative for Germany came second with 16.5%.

- Belgium

Alexander De Croo announced his resignation as Belgium’s prime minister in a dramatic turn of events following European elections after a significant defeat for his party, the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats, which garnered only 5.9% of the vote in the general election that coincided with the European election.

- Spain

In Spain, the far-right Popular Party gained two seats more than Pedro Sanchez's Socialist Workers' Party in the parliament.