Europe is seeing a major political shift as the traditional centre-left and centre-right parties were edged out by populist, environmentalist and far-right parties in the European Parliament elections.

The far-right gained precedence on Sunday following four days of a polarised vote across the bloc, with parties led by Italy's populist Matteo Salvini and French far-right leader Marine Le Pen becoming among the biggest in the European assembly.

As Mr Salvini told supporters at his party headquarters in Milan, "the rules are changing in Europe".

Image: Marine Le Pen declares victory over Emmanuel Macron

It was also a good night for pro-environment Greens, who are riding a "green wave" propelled by recent climate change demonstrations.

Provisional results early on Monday showed Green parties in Germany, France, the UK and elsewhere came fourth in the election with 70 seats, an increase of 18 compared with 2014's elections.


In Germany, the Greens came second with over 20% of the vote share.

More than 400 million people were eligible to vote in the elections and around half cast their ballot, a bloc-wide estimate showed on Sunday.

Turnout was at a two-decade high for ballots across all 28 European Union countries.

Commentators credited the increased enthusiasm to challenges ranging from climate change to the rise of eurosceptic parties.

The issues of immigration, security and the environment were top of the agenda, with the results reflecting voters' anxieties.

The elections were viewed as a test of the influence of the nationalist, populist and hard-right movements that have swept the continent and encouraged Britain to quit the EU altogether.

The vote was seen as crucial for the future of the bloc by both EU advocates and opponents.

Britain saw voters go to the extremes, with the strongest showing the newly-formed Brexit Party, led by Nigel Farage. The Liberal Democrats were the second most voted for party, jumping from one seat to 15, while the Conservatives faced a near wipe-out.

Image: Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage gives a speech after defending his seat in the European elections

In France, the far-right National Rally's victory over French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party in the election.

Ms Le Pen's anti-immigrant party came out on top with 24% in a rebuke of Mr Macron, who has made EU integration the heart of his presidency.

The French president's party drew just over 21%, according to government results.

In Germany, the country that elects the largest number of MEPs, Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition saw a drastic loss in support to the Green party, getting just 28% in their worst ever performance in European elections.

In Italy, Mr Salvini's League, an anti-immigrant party, claimed nearly 34% of the vote in early projections - a jump from around 6% five years ago.

Former premier Silvio Berlusconi made a political comeback to become an MEP at 82 - years after leaving office in disgrace following his bunga bunga scandal and a tax fraud conviction that led him to be expelled from the Italian senate in 2013.

Image: Silvio Berlusconi casts his vote at a polling station in Milan

Mr Salvini said: "Not only is the League the first party in Italy, but Marine Le Pen is first in France, Nigel Farage is first in Great Britain.

"Therefore, Italy, France and England: the sign of a Europe that is changing, that is fed up."

Image: Matteo Salvini attends a news conference following the European Parliament election results

Pro-EU parties were expected to win around two-thirds of the 751-seat legislature that sits in Brussels and Strasbourg, according to the projections released by parliament and based on the results rolling in overnight.

The continent-wide voting impacted internal politics in many countries as well as the functioning of the bloc.

Image: Emmanuel Macron's centrist party drew just over 21% of the vote

Meanwhile, Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras called a snap national election following his party's loss.

Image: Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras has called for an early national election

Speaking from the Syriza party offices, Mr Tsipras said that "the results does not rise to our expectations... I will not ignore it or quit".

The results will likely leave the EU parliament's two main parties - the European People's Party and the Socialists and Democrats - without a majority for the first time since 1979, prompting complex talks about forming a working coalition.

Current MEPs' terms end on 1 July, with the new parliament being seated the next day.