Low turnout in new member states

For the sixth election in succession, turnout appears to have fallen to fresh lows.

Initial predictions put voter participation at 44.2 percent across the EU 25, lower than the 49.8 percent recorded in 1999.

Since the maiden elections in 1979 participation has fallen steadily from a high of 63 percent.

One of the biggest shocks of the night came from the ten new member states who joined in May, where only 26 percent of voters bothered to cast their ballots.

In the 15 ...