In pictures: Election highs and lows

Supporter of the centre-right opposition in Spain, the Partido Popular (PP), waves PP and European flags outside PP headquarters in Madrid

It was a night of celebration for parties of the centre-right and far-right in Europe, many of whom enjoyed the backing of millions of voters choosing 736 members of the European Parliament (MEPs) for a five-year term.

Franz Muentefering, chairman of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD), reacts to the first projected results of European elections at the party's headquarters in Berlin on Sunday

Parties of the centre-left - including Germany's Social Democrats (whose chairman, Franz Muentefering, is pictured), the UK's Labour Party and France's Socialists - suffered setbacks of historic proportions.

BNP leader Nick Griffin celebrates with his wife after results of the European elections were announced at the town hall in Manchester

In the UK, the British National Party (BNP) won its first two seats, adding to successes by other far-right, anti-immigrant parties in the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Slovakia and Hungary.

Anti-fascist activists await the arrival of BNP leader Nick Griffin at Manchester Town Hall in the UK

Their electoral advances met with anger and unease. In the UK, protesters briefly prevented BNP leader entering the building in Manchester where results were being announced.

Fianna Fail's Eoin Ryan reacts as vote-counting in the European elections runs late into the night in Dublin

As the downturn continues to bite, many ruling parties were punished by voters. In Ireland, the worst performing economy in Western Europe, Fianna Fail was left without a single representative in the parliament.

Greek Socialist Pasok party leader George Papandreou is greeted by supporters as he arrives at party headquarters in Athens on Sunday

There were some exceptions to the swing to the right. In Greece, the Socialists tasted their first electoral victory in years, taking 37% of the vote to the ruling conservatives' 33%.

Daniel Cohn-Bendit, candidate for France's Europe-Ecologie party and EU Green leader, gives a speech on Sunday

Green parties - an alternative outlet for disillusioned voters - performed well in several countries including France, where they equalled the Socialist Party on 16%.

But many of the disillusioned voted with their feet - some staying away from the ballot box altogether, others urged to spoil their votes (as suggested by the defacers of this poster of German Chancellor Angela Merkel).