-Caveat Lector- Christian Democrats Win in Europe By ANNA SATHIAH .c The Associated Press BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - For the first time in 20 years, the Christian Democrats have moved ahead of Socialists in the European Parliament, marking a swing away from left-wing governments in most European Union nations. Final results of parliamentary elections released today gave the Christian Democrats 224 seats in the 626-member assembly, and the Socialists 180 seats. The Liberals, the third largest group, got 44 seats. Some smaller groups made significant progress, including the Greens, who gained nine seats for a total of 36, moving from sixth to fourth place. The Union for Europe, comprised mainly of French Gaullists, fell from fourth to fifth place with 34 seats, a loss of 18. In the outgoing assembly, the Socialists held 214 seats, the Christian Democrats had 201 and the Liberals had 42. The seat division may still change depending on whether smaller groups join one of the two main factions, but the Christian Democrats are expected to remain the biggest force. Although the elections are for candidates that will not sit in national legislatures, they are a barometer of how their political parties fare at home. The EU-wide polls reflected a general swing to the right, as people who did cast ballots tended to vote for the opposition. Eleven of the 15 EU countries have left-wing governments. In Britain, support for Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labor party slumped. The opposition Conservatives overtook Labor to become the party with the largest number of British seats in the European Parliament. The Conservatives took about 38 percent of the British vote, while Blair's party took 28 percent. In France, the Socialist Party of Prime Minister Lionel Jospin got the most votes, with 22 percent - the party's first such lead since European elections began in 1979. The conservative right of President Jacques Chirac was a big loser, lagging behind a new anti-European movement, Rally for France, headed by former interior minister, Charles Pasqua. Pasqua's party got nearly 14 percent, while Chirac's Rally for the Republic got 13 percent. The extreme-right National Front of Jean-Marie Le Pen polled 6 percent. His former top lieutenant, Bruno Megret, got 4 percent. Germany's opposition Christian Democrats won nearly 49 percent, against 31 percent for Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats. Their Green coalition partners slipped to nearly 7 percent of the vote, down from 10 percent in 1994. In Spain, one of a minority of EU nations where the government is conservative, the Popular party of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar looked set to win 26 of the country's 64 seats in the EU assembly, against 25 for the opposition Socialists. Turnout was generally low, another indication that many Europeans are indifferent toward the EU assembly. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
