ATHENS (CIHAN) - Greek people have been going to polls on here Sunday to elect their parliamentarians in the European parliament elections. The ruling New Democracy Party of Costas Karamanlis is leading the polls, according to latest public opinion polls.
Some 9 million 777 thousand 873 voters are eligible to cast their votes in European parliamentary elections. Greek people will cast their votes today if they finish celebration of their national team's 2-1 victory over Portugal in opening up match of Euro 2004. A low turnout rate is also expected in Greece. A total of 23 political parties have been contesting in the elections. The ruling New Democracy Party of Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis is expected to garner 5 percent higher votes from opposition PASOK.
In 1999 elections, New Democracy and PASOK had gained same number of deputies, each gained 9 deputies while Greek Communist Party gained 3, Leftist Alliance and Democratic Movement Parties each had gained 2 parliamentarians.
Nearly 350 million people are eligible to vote since the European Union took in 10 new members, mostly from former Iron Curtain countries, on May 1.
In EU parliamentary elections on June 10-13, Germany will send 99 deputies, France and Italy will send 78, Spain and Poland will send 54, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and Portugal will send 24, Sweden to send 19, Austria to send 18, Denmark, Slovakia and Finland will send 14, Ireland and Lithonia to send 13, Latvia 9, Slovenia 7, Estonia, Luxemburg and Greek Cypriot will send 6, and Malta will send 5 representatives.
EU parliamentary elections started on Thursday in Britain and Holland, Czech Republic and Ireland kicked off voting on Friday. Latvia and Malta voted on Saturday.