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European Parliament elections begin
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-04 20:59

European Parliament elections begin
German Chancellor Angela Merkel waves after she gives a speech during a rally of the Christian Democratic Union party (CDU) for the upcoming European Parliament elections in the eastern German town of Goerlitz June 3, 2009. [Agencies]
Official figures showed that voter turnout at the European Parliament elections has fallen steadily since 1979 from over 60 percent to around 45 percent, although the EU assembly is getting more power.

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Dutch opinion polls have predicted a low voter turnout not exceeding 40 percent, slightly higher than 39.1 percent in the last elections in 2004.

On the eve of the elections, the outgoing European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pottering called on EU citizens to go to the polls.

"The elections to the European Parliament are of a greatest importance. They are a great occasion to re-launch the European Union and to address the issues that are important to citizens such as the economic crisis, unemployment, climate change, energy security, globalization or immigration," Pottering said in a statement on Wednesday.

Pottering warned that without enough participation, extremist parties may gain in the elections, which would affect everybody.

"Today approximately 75 percent of the European Union legislation is decided by the European Parliament together with the Council of Ministers and has a direct impact in our daily lives," he said. "The greater the participation, the less likely that votes for extremist parties will distort the outcome."

"With your vote you will take a decision about the future of Europe and about your future in our common Europe! Use your vote to decide which kind of European Union you would like to see. Go to vote! It is your choice!" he urged.