The results are broadly in line with what opinion polls had indicated, although with a slight “pro-institution” surprise. Key takeaways are, first, a decline in the votes for the two large political groups which are the social-democrats and the Christian-democrats or moderate right; these two parties had, since 1979, commanded a combined majority in the European Parliament, and this is now over.

Second, a rise in other so-called “mainstream” forces, the pro-market liberal center, including the Party of French President Macron, and, even more notably, the Greens.