The far-right was on course to score big gains in Sunday’s European Parliament elections, exit polls showed, as France and Germany joined the Netherlands in offering the first signs that a rightwards shift in the balance of power is under way.

Here are some quotes from across the bloc:

JORDAN BARDELLA, LEAD CANDIDATE, FRANCE’S FAR-RIGHT NATIONAL RALLY PARTY

“Emmanuel Macron is a weakened president, already deprived of an absolute majority in the French parliament and now restricted in his means of action within the European Parliament.

“The President of the Republic must choose to follow the spirit of the institutions, solemnly take note of this new political situation, return to the French people and organise new legislative elections.”

RAPHAEL GLUCKSMANN, LEAD CANDIDATE, FRANCE’S SOCIALIST PARTY

“The far right in France today represents 40% of the vote in France. Across Europe, we are witnessing a wave that is profoundly shaking our democracies.”

ALICE WEIDEL, CO-LEADER OF GERMANY’S FAR-RIGHT AFD PARTY

“We’ve done well because people have become more anti-European.

“People are annoyed by so much bureaucracy from Brussels.”

(Compiled by Richard Lough; Editing by David Holmes)

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Reuters)