European elections live: Dutch left takes narrow lead, says exit poll, but Wilders welcomes showing | European elections

“Europe’s at stake here,” Spanish MEP and leader of the Socialists and Democrats group in the European parliament Iratxe García said this morning.

“Faced with a [People’s party] PP that’s only been slinging mud during this campaign, people need a PSOE that’s strong, committed and that has a plan,” she said. García’s comments are a reference to the saga embroiling the wife of Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, which the conservative PP has been weaponising.

Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, is being investigated by a judge over allegations of corruption and influence-peddling. Sánchez has insisted on his wife’s innocence and dismissed the allegations as cheap, politically-motivated and designed to hurt both his family and the government he leads.

The right has been trying to make the European elections a referendum on the prime minister.

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the PP leader, said yesterday: “Spain needs this victory. Let’s not put off until the general election what we can start doing in the European elections. Let’s start the change from Europe.”

‘You can feel a shift’: will the French be lured by Le Pen?

Angelique Chrisafis

Céline, a civil servant and administrator in several French government ministries, used to keep quiet about the fact that she voted for the far-right, anti-immigration party of Marine Le Pen. “I couldn’t talk about it at work; people would say: ‘You’re a fascist.’ It was frowned upon – it was almost a sackable offence,” said the 68-year-old, who retired three years ago.

But today, even in her hometown of Boulogne-Billancourt, west of Paris, where the largely well-off residents have been historically closed to the far right, and voted 83% for the centrist Emmanuel Macron in the 2022 presidential final round, Céline has noticed a shift in the public mood.

Across France, Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National (RN) is polling at a historic high of about 33% in Sunday’s European elections, more than double Macron’s grouping on about 16%.

National politics has become increasingly focused on the far-right’s progress to the next presidential race in 2027, and whether anything will be capable of holding it back.

“Today, there’s more of a sense of people getting onboard with Le Pen’s ideas – it’s as if there has been a lightbulb moment,” Céline, who did not want to give her surname, said. “You don’t see immigrants here, but 10km away in the Paris banlieue you do. I live a comfortable life, but I have my eyes open, and it’s revolting out there for people who don’t have much money. The problem is immigration; people feel invaded.”

Read the full story here.

As the European elections continue, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, is addressing the French national assembly.

Watch here:

“The narrative of the rise of the far-right has been beaten in the Netherlands,” the Greens’ Bas Eickhout said.

“Of course it’s still tight, but we have won – a progressive coalition has won in the Netherlands. So really, this is a good example, and this is the message for the rest of Europe: Go out to vote! Go and vote for a strong and progressive Europe. We can do it, we can beat them,” he added.

Far-right politician Geert Wilders has welcomed the exit poll results in the Netherlands.

“So proud of the results in the last year. We won the national elections half a year ago. We’ll join the Dutch government soon. And the PVV had the best result and biggest gains ever in the EU elections!” he wrote, thanking his voters.

Dutch voters cast their ballots in the European election yesterday.

Broadcaster NOS has published an exit poll showing the Green-Left-Labour alliance with a narrow lead over the far-right Freedom party (PVV).

Geert Wilders’ PVV is projected to take 7 seats, compared to one seat in the last European election, according to the poll.

However, the exit poll has an error margin of about one seat.

Ireland heads to the polls to vote in local and European elections

Rory Carroll

Voters in Ireland are going to the polls in local and European elections that have been dominated by a housing shortage and a backlash against immigrants and refugees.

A record number of far-right candidates are on the ballot for local councils and the European parliament but it is unclear if many will get elected and join an expected far-right surge across Europe.

Parties from the ruling coalition have sought to neuter the threat by hardening rhetoric and measures against migrants and asylum seekers. The far-right has also dented its prospects with a proliferation of candidates that will split their vote.

Polling stations opened at 7am local time and will close at 10pm.

Ireland will send 14 MEPs to Europe, accounting for 2% of the 720-seat chamber. Voters will also fill 949 city and county council seats in 31 local government authorities and choose a mayor for Limerick.

With polls showing that almost two-thirds of voters want tougher controls on immigration, the centre-right government has reduced welfare support, expanded enforcement and removed encampments to deter fresh arrivals.

That appears to have helped stabilise support for the Greens and Fianna Fáil and to have bolstered Fine Gael, the third party in the coalition led by the taoiseach, Simon Harris.

Read the full story here.

Good morning and welcome back to the European elections blog.

Voters will Ireland go to the polls today, and voters in the Czech Republic will be voting today and tomorrow.

We will be delving into the latest on the campaign trail and polling places.

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