2004 European Parliament election
The 2004 European Parliament election was held between 10 and 13 June 2004 in the 25 member states of the European Union, using varying election days according to local custom. The European Parliamental parties could not be voted for, but elected national parties aggregated in European Parliamental parties after the elections. Votes were counted as the polls closed, but results were not announced until 13 and 14 June so results from one country would not influence voters in another where polls were still open; however, the Netherlands, voting on Thursday 10, announced nearly complete provisional results  as soon as they were counted, on the evening of its election day, a move heavily criticized by the European Commission. 342 million people were eligible to vote, the second-largest democratic electorate in the world after India. It was the biggest transnational direct election in history, and the 10 new member states elected MEPs for the first time. The new (6th) Parliament consisted of 732 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). Results showed a general defeat of governing parties and an increase in representatives from eurosceptic parties. No majority was achieved. The balance of power in the Parliament remained  the same (largest party EPP-ED, second largest PES) despite the 10 new member states. Results by country. The national results as at 21 July 2004 are as follows: Results by EU party (2004 estimated result). The estimated votes by EU party are as follows: Registered voters: 353,460,958 (est.) Votes cast: 154,317,718 (43.66%) (est.) Total seats: 732 Results by EU party (2007 national result). The notional results by EU party as at 8 January 2007 are as follows: Registered voters: 378,106,633 (est.) Votes cast: 168,317,718 (44.49%) (est.) Total seats: 785 (+53) New inclusion. Gibraltar participated as a result of the  judgement in Matthews v. United Kingdom Other elections. The elections coincided with legislative elections in Luxembourg and presidential elections in Lithuania. They also coincided with local and regional elections in England and Wales, Irish local elections, regional elections in Belgium, local or regional elections in most of Italy, and state parliament elections in the German state of Thuringia.