@bolded: That's exactly what I'm talking about. Those who are more in lime of the more extreme partes are generally also wanting more change, hence why theygo to vote. But supporters of the big parties often don't feel that urgency to do anything, so they don't go to vote. This time, much more people did feel they had to vote to change things, especially supporters of liberal and green parties this time around.

Updated OP with current numbers (still preliminary).

I'd say that people overestimate the role of the European parliament. It's basically a "pension fund" for politicians that are offloaded by their country's parties.

And since the UK Brexit nutjobs are leaving in less than half a year, the swing to the right, if one says there was one at all, will be somewhat neutralised.

Results (all preliminary) in some of the bigger countries:

France: The far right wing Rassemblement national won with 23.5% very closely against Macrons liberal party En Marche with 22.5%. Greens are behind with 13%.

Germany: The biggest parties (and currently in power in national german government) of CDU/CSU and SPD lost a lot and are now at 29% and 16%. That actually means that the Greens who doubled their result from 2014 (now 21%) are actually now the second biggest party.

Italy: The right wing Lega Salvini won with 34%. PD follows with 23% and M5S with 16%.

Spain: The social democrats of the PSOE whoc are currently running the government won with 33%. PP (conservatives) had only 20%.

Remember: all numbers are still early.

Well, but the EU actually decided said copyright guideline (which the countries have to adapt into national law now) a few months ago. This was controversial, especially because of effects on the internet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directive_on_Copyright_in_the_Digital_Single_Market

The M5S must be deeply regreting their decision of forming a government with the Lega instead of the PD as they originally intended to. Salvini is very politically savvy and their anti-estabilishment votes were sucked away.

Even with all the xenophobic sentiment prevalent in Italy, I don't think the Lega would've gotten that large this election without a government platform of their own.

OK, it seems now we have also preliminary results for the UK. It is strange, the UK was the first to vote on Thursday, but the last who we get counts from. Are they bad at counting?

Anyways, the new Brexit party of Nigel Farage has as expected won with 32%. LibDems are the second to follow with 19%. Only after that follows the most important opposition,the Labour party with 14% and the Greens with 11% beats the ruling Tories, who have 9%.

This was surely a strange election for the UK, as it shouldn't have happened in the first place if they followed through with the brexit on time.

I wanted to vote but I forgot it's this Sunday. I hope the Humanists got enough votes. They're the only party that isn't complete bullshit.

It's compulsory in Australia. If given the choice, I too would still vote though.

I like my lamb cutlets rare and pink.

Their salary is 6k euro on hand per month, plus some crazy benefits. Unless they give me some of that I'm not voting, na mean.