Tweet
The Associated Press
May 6, 2012 Sunday 07:06 PM GMT
What's at stake as 6 European nations vote
Six European countries are holding elections Sunday. Here is a quick
look at what's at stake:
FRANCE: Socialist challenger Francois Hollande defeats incumbent
Nicolas Sarkozy for the presidency by capitalizing on anger over
austerity measures. As president, Hollande is expected to push for a
more stimulus-minded approach to the financial crisis in France and
the rest of Europe.
GREECE: Greeks punish the two main parties in parliamentary elections,
with official projections showing both hemorrhaging support and no
party gaining enough votes to form a government. The results could
affect the country's course as it grapples with a debt crisis that has
shaken world markets.
SERBIA: The nation of 7.1 million people in southeast Europe holds
presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections. The outcomes
could affect Serbia's relations with the European Union as well as
Kosovo, a one-time province whose declaration of independence Serbia
has refused to accept.
GERMANY: Exit polls show voters in Germany's northernmost state have
likely ousted a governing center-right government made up of the same
parties as the federal coalition, a blow to Chancellor Angela Merkel.
About 2.24 million people are eligible to vote in Schleswig-Holstein
state.
ITALY: It's the nation's first election since Premier Mario Monti was
tapped to save Italy from its debt crisis. The vote could gauge public
anger against parties supporting his austerity measures. Some 9.5
million Italians were eligible to vote Sunday and Monday for 942 city
councils and mayorships.
ARMENIA: Some 2.5 million Armenians are eligible to vote for a new
parliament in an election the nation's president hopes will give him a
legislative majority. President Serge Sarkisian's Republican Party is
expected to win, but it wants the majority in the 131-seat parliament
to avoid having to form a coalition.
May 6, 2012 Sunday 07:06 PM GMT
What's at stake as 6 European nations vote
Six European countries are holding elections Sunday. Here is a quick
look at what's at stake:
FRANCE: Socialist challenger Francois Hollande defeats incumbent
Nicolas Sarkozy for the presidency by capitalizing on anger over
austerity measures. As president, Hollande is expected to push for a
more stimulus-minded approach to the financial crisis in France and
the rest of Europe.
GREECE: Greeks punish the two main parties in parliamentary elections,
with official projections showing both hemorrhaging support and no
party gaining enough votes to form a government. The results could
affect the country's course as it grapples with a debt crisis that has
shaken world markets.
SERBIA: The nation of 7.1 million people in southeast Europe holds
presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections. The outcomes
could affect Serbia's relations with the European Union as well as
Kosovo, a one-time province whose declaration of independence Serbia
has refused to accept.
GERMANY: Exit polls show voters in Germany's northernmost state have
likely ousted a governing center-right government made up of the same
parties as the federal coalition, a blow to Chancellor Angela Merkel.
About 2.24 million people are eligible to vote in Schleswig-Holstein
state.
ITALY: It's the nation's first election since Premier Mario Monti was
tapped to save Italy from its debt crisis. The vote could gauge public
anger against parties supporting his austerity measures. Some 9.5
million Italians were eligible to vote Sunday and Monday for 942 city
councils and mayorships.
ARMENIA: Some 2.5 million Armenians are eligible to vote for a new
parliament in an election the nation's president hopes will give him a
legislative majority. President Serge Sarkisian's Republican Party is
expected to win, but it wants the majority in the 131-seat parliament
to avoid having to form a coalition.