By Martin Banks - 7th June 2009
Dutch Socialist Jan Wiersma has said the PES result in the EU elections has been "very disappointing".
Provisional results showed that the Socialists came second, winning between 155 and 165 seats, compared to between 263 and 273 for the centre-right EPP.
ALDE took between 78 and 84 seats and the Greens/ EFA between 52 and 56.
Wiersma, a deputy leader of the PES group in parliament, told this website, "Let's not beat about the bush - this is not a good result by any means. It looks like we will lose 20 seats in the new parliament.
"It still gives us the capability to push forward our programme but this result is a clear signal from the electorate that we need to do more to raise our profile in the years to come.
"Despite the economic crisis, Social Democrats throughout Europe have been unable to get their message across to the voters. This, despite the fact that centre-right parties are in power in the majority of member states."
He said that despite the result, Socialists would still insist on having a "meaningful" say on the next president of the European commission.
A PES spokesman said, "While there have been some disappointments, we have actually have very well in some member states like Malta, Ireland, Bulgaria and Romania.
"In Italy, we have also recorded a very credible result. It all means we remain well placed to deliver on the issues we promised in the election campaign."
Further comment came from Joseph Daul, leader of the EPP group in parliament which, according to early predictions, will have a 70-seat majority in the new parliament.
He said, "The results look good and, I believe, are vindication of the policies we presented to the voters in these elections."
Wilfried Martens, a former prime minister of Belgium and president of the pan-European European People's Party, said, "The majority of people in Europe have voted for a stable political force. Clearly,the Socialists have failed to convince many people that they offered a viable alternative."
He said in the new parliament, the EPP would put the emphasis on the economy, climate change, immigration and police reform.
Turning to the relatively low turnout in the election, he said this was a "problem", not just for the EPP but for all political parties.
He also took a swipe at the awareness-raising campaign launched by parliament at a cost of 18 million euros, describing it as "insufficient."
"The fact is we need to get the public engaged more. It is not just about information campaigns as can be seen from the turnout in this election."
On the turnout, Graham Watson, who is standing down as ALDE group leader after the election, said his party advocated pan-European voting lists and also said that Euronews, the TV channel, should be given the status of a public service broadcaster.
He added, "As far as the results are concerned,it appears that we have done quite well."
Belgian ALDE MEP Dirk Sterckx said, "I am a very relieved man tonight. However, it seems that the eurosceptics have done well which makes it all the more important that our group is as strong as possible in the next parliament."
He refused to be drawn on the likely successor to Watson as group leader, though UK Liberal Diana Wallis has recently thrown her hat in the ring for the job.
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