Far-right and nationalist parties have made gains in several countries in the election for the new European parliament, in line with the shift in The Netherlands on June 4.

The result of the Dutch vote was announced last week.  In the Netherlands, the anti-EU PVV party headed by Geert Wilders was heralded the big winner with 17% of the vote. Nationalist and far-right parties also made gains in Britain, Austria, Denmark, Slovakia and Hungary.

In Europe as a whole, however, the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) looks set to continue to hold power. The Dutch Christian Democratic party CDA, which is a member of the EPP, emerged as the biggest party after the vote in Holland although support fell from seven to five seats.