Brussels, 10/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European elections began on Thursday in the United Kingdom, including for the first time in Gibraltar, as well as in the Netherlands. They will continue on Friday in Ireland and from Friday afternoon in the Czech Republic. The Czechs will continue to go to the urns on Saturday (between 8h00 and 14h00) and will be joined by the Latvians, the Maltese and some of the Italians. A large part of the Italians, however, will not be casting their votes until Sunday, like the immense majority of European citizens.
In the meantime, there are more and more poll surveys but they often give results showing that the parties in power and the opposition parties are neck and neck. This is the case above all in Austria, Portugal and the Netherlands. Polls seem to show that, in many Member States, voters will not decide who to vote for until the last hours of the campaigns which are often confused and which have not improved Europe's image. Has the British voter been able to resist the lure of the UKIP nationalists and the demagogic campaigns of tabloids? We shall know on Sunday. The Dutch for their part will not need to wait that long before knowing the result of their votes as the Dutch government has decided that municipalities will be able to give out the results on Thursday evening (see EUROPE of 9 June, p.4).
In Portugal, the campaign has been suspended by all political parties further to the death of Antonio Sousa Franco, who headed the Socialist list. This worthy and symbolic gesture toward the family will also allow elections to take place in greater serenity. (See EUROPE of 10 June, p.4).