European Parliament elections: Unexpected setback for Dutch far right, says exit poll

Dutch anti-EU populist Geert Wilders appeared to suffer a setback as European parliament elections were held in the Netherlands and Britain on Thursday, despite predictions of continental gains for the far-right. Exit polls showed a disappointing result for anti-Islam Wilders, but that was not expected to buck the Europe-wide momentum of anti-immigration parties bent on dismantling the European Union from the inside.

Some 400 million Europeans are eligible for the elections, spread over four days in the EU's 28 member states, and which come as the EU struggles for relevance in the aftermath of the eurozone crisis and grapples with the chaos on its borders in Ukraine.

An IPSOS exit poll published by Dutch state broadcaster NOS said Wilders' Party for Freedom had won just 12.2% of the vote, down from 17% at the last election in 2009. The exit polls said the pro-Europe centrist D66 and CDA Christian Democrats had won the most votes, with 15.6% and 15.2% respectively.

Analysts had predicted Wilders' party might suffer because of voter apathy among Dutch eurosceptics, while those in favour of the EU were much more likely to turn out. The exit polls would mean that the PVV wins 3 MEP seats, while D66 and CDA win four each.

A rally of Wilders' party faithful at a beachfront pub in The Hague fell silent as result predictions were released. "The exit polls are disappointing," Wilders said, blaming the result on the low turnout of 37%. "We will keep pushing the fight hard in Brussels, from tomorrow we will look for parties to collaborate with in Europe," he said.

The Netherlands is only sending 26 MEPs to the 751-seat European parliament, and bigger anti-EU parties, including Britain's UK Independence Party (UKIP) led by Nigel Farage, are expected to score big successes.

Most of the other EU states vote on Sunday, with the exception of Ireland and the Czech Republic on Friday, and Latvia, Malta and Slovakia on Saturday.

When the final results are announced from 2100 GMT on Sunday, eurosceptic parties may top the polls in Britain, France and Italy.