Greens surprise in EU elections
Europe Ecologie on equal footing with Socialist Party in second place as centre-right UMP dominates EU election vote.
THE centre-right UMP party has dominated France's EU election vote with 27.8% of the vote, well ahead of nearest rivals the Socialist Party who picked up 16.4%
The Socialist Party, formerly France's largest party in the EU parliament, lost half of its seats, dropping to 14 MEPs. Party spokesman Benoît Hamon was not re-elected.
The Socialist performance was almost matched by Europe Ecologie - the principle green party - the surprise winners of the night.
The party's performance has raised questions over the impact of the first screening on Friday of the environmental awareness film Home by photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand. It was watched by eight million people on television.
France's centerist Modem party, led by former presidential candidate Francis Bayrou took just six seats after obtaining 8.4% of the vote - well below poll predictions.
While Bayrou described the results as "deceptive", he said as party leader he would learn lessons.
France produced its biggest abstention rate with just 40.48% of registered voters heading to the ballot box, breaking the previous record, set during the 2004 EU elections, of 42.76%.
In quotes
"[The Socialist Party] has need of profound renovation."
Socialist Party leader Martine Aubry
"Anti-sarkozy politics cannot take the place of a manifesto."
Former minister and Socialist Party veteran Jack Lang
"There is the possibility of an alliance in the European Parliament in the independent groups to carry out a certain type of politics and create a majority against Barroso (the leader of the European Commission)."
Europe Ecologie leader Daniel Cohn-Bendit
"This success is first of all the recognition of the work accomplished by the French presidency of the European Union under the leadership of the President of France."
Prime Minister François Fillon
"This is a result beyond our hopes and a result which commits us."
UMP secretary general Xavier Bertrand
"Life is like that. There are ups and downs. From the downs we must learn lessons and I will."
Modem leader François Bayrou
