Exit polls predict that centre-right parties have emerged as the winners in the European Union parliamentary elections. Voters in 19 of the 27 member states cast ballots on Sunday, the fourth and final day of voting.

According to the first official estimate, voter turnout was a record low of 43 percent. Turnout in 2004 was 45.5 percent. Around 388 million people, including voters in France, Germany, Italy and Spain, were eligible to cast ballots today. The European Parliament is the European Union's only elected body; MEP serve a five-year term.

The European People's Party (EPP), an umbrella group of centre-right parties, is predicted to remain the largest bloc in the 736-seat parliament. The Socialists form the second largest bloc, followed by the Liberals.

Preliminary results indicate that Germany's Christian Democrat CDU/CSU coalition will remain the largest party despite significant losses. Exit polls put the CDU/CSU at 38.5 percent, 5.5 percent lower than in 2004. The social Democrat SPD, the other member of Germany's grand coalition government, is predicted to win 21 percent of the vote, a loss of 0.5 percent.

In France, exit polls indicate that President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP, also affiliated with the EPP, will emerge as the winner with about 25 percent of the vote. The Socialists are predicted to come a poor second with around 16.8 percent. Spain's conservative opposition appears to have won a narrow victory over the ruling Socialists. In Italy, initial results give Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's Freedom Party around 40 percent of the vote.

EPP affiliated parties are also predicted to win in Poland, Austria, Britain and a number of smaller member states.