Center-Right Set to Lead EU Legislature

Left-leaning parties across Europe were apparently swept from posts in the European Parliament after elections marked by low turnout and a paucity of riveting issues. Center-right parties emerged victorious for the first time in two decades, striking a blow at the Socialists who run 11 governments in the 15 European Union nations. Preliminary results gave center-right Christian Democrats 224 seats in the new 626-member assembly; the Socialists plunged to 180. The Parliament oversees the work of the European Commission, which proposes laws and regulations for the EU members.