TRANSCRIPT
Right and far-right wing parties have made substantial gains in the European Union's Parliamentary elections.
Preliminary results show they finished first in France and Germany.
And performed significantly in Austria, Italy and the Netherlands.
Centrist mainstream parties still hold an overall majority, which European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says is crucial for stability.
"In other words, the centre is holding, but it is also true that the extremes on the left and on the right have gained support. And this is why the result comes with great responsibility for the parties in the centre."
Dr von der Leyen is seeking a second five-year term as the lead candidate of the centre-right European People's Party.
Projections show the EPP won 184 of the 720 seats.
In second place came the slightly weakened center-left Socialists and Democrats group, with 139 politicians.
While far right parties look set to hold up to 180 seats in total.
Dr von der Leyen says while "today is a good day" for the EPP, she also noted this " election does not take place in a vacuum".
"The world around us is in turmoil. Forces from the outside and from the inside are trying to destabilise our societies and they are trying to weaken Europe. We will never let that happen and that's why I fight every day for a strong Europe and these election results show that the majority of Europeans want a strong Europe."
Every five years, European citizens cast their ballots to determine who will make up the 720 members of the European parliament.
Voters elect representatives from their respective countries to represent them.
Around 400 million people are eligible to vote, but seeing as voting is not compulsory, only a fraction of that number typically cast their votes.
And after being dealt a blow at the hands of Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a surprise snap election for the end of the month.
"This is why, after having carried out the consultations provided by Article Twelve of our Constitution, I have decided to give you back the choice of our parliamentary future through a vote. I am therefore dissolving the National Assembly this evening. In a few moments, I will sign the decree calling for a legislative elections, which will be held on June 30 for the first round and on July 7 for the second."
It's a risky move, with projections showing the far-right National Rally earned more than double the votes of his centrist alliance.
And almost 40 per cent of the country have now voted for right or far-right wing parties.
President of the National Rally Party in the National Assembly Marine Le Pen says she welcomes President Macron's decision.
"We are ready to exercise power if the French people place their trust in us in these future legislative elections. We're ready to turn the country around, ready to defend the interests of the French, ready to put an end to mass immigration, ready to make the purchasing power of the French a priority. We're ready to start the re-industrialisation of the country. In short, we're ready to turn the country around. Ready to revive France."
Emmanuel Macron has said calling an election serves as an "act of confidence" in the French people.
Hundreds of people have since gathered in Paris -mainly Green, socialist and far-left voters - in protest of the results of the European Union parliamentary election.
27-year-old demonstrator Fouad Khayat says he believes it's important to express "anger in the face of the rise of the far-right."
"I'm of Lebanese origin. I was born in Lebanon. People like me – on top of which I'm a Muslim – we'll be the first victims of (French President) Emmanuel Macron's risky bet if, tomorrow, we find ourselves with a far-right Prime Minister in our country. Minorities, queers, women, immigrants are going to suffer from this risky bet by Emmanuel Macron. I think it's a very dangerous game. He's adding fuel to the fire."
Meanwhile, demonstrators also gathered outside the European parliament, accompanied by an orchestra and choir.
Among them was citizen movement Avaaz spokeswoman Patricia Martin.
"We just have a simple message for all Europeans. It is time to unite and fight against the extreme right. They are coming for everything that we care about. So, if you fight to protect the planet, if you fight for women’s rights, if you fight for whatever you are fighting for that must become also a fight against the extreme right. This must be a wake-up call."
Nationalist leaders are already in power in Slovakia and Italy, where nationalism and anti-immigrant populism has delivered big results.
Italy has secured up to 25 seats in the the E-U chamber.
The country's Prime Minister and leader of Brothers of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, says she is pleased with the result.
"I want to say that I am proud of the result of Brothers of Italy, extraordinarily proud of the result of Brothers of Italy, but I am also very proud of the result of Forza Italia, of the result of the Lega. I am proud that the majority governing this nation has managed to grow together."
Right wing parties also strengthened their majority, with victories in Germany, Greece and Poland, while they enjoyed significant advances in Hungary.
Analysts are weighing in.
Alberto Alemanno is a Professor of EU Law and Policy at HEC Paris (École des hautes études commerciales de Paris) and told Al Jazeera while far right parties are winning, the margins are smaller than predicted.
"That basically means they will be somehow able to influence the new political direction of Europe. However, it's very important to highlight that the centre, the pro-European majority, meaning the parties that have historically run the European Union, they really hold. They've been weakened by the surge to the far-right, but they have only lost a few members of the European parliament in this election."
Far-right parties have put leaders in Brussels, Paris and Berlin on notice, but they'll need to unite to change EU policy.
