European Parliament election, 2004 (Netherlands)

Netherlands European Parliament election, 2004

← 1999 10 June 2004 2009 →
25 seats to the European Parliament
Turnout	39,26%
First party Second party Third party   Leader Camiel Eurlings Max van den Berg Jules Maaten Party CDA PvdA VVD Alliance EPP-ED PES ALDE Seats won 7 / 27 7 / 27 4 / 27 Seat change 2 1 2 Popular vote 1.164.431 1.124.549 629.198 Percentage 24,43% 23,60% 13,20% Swing 2,51% 3,49% 6,49%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Kathalijne Buitenweg Paul van Buitenen Erik Meijer Party GL ET SP Alliance Greens-EFA Greens-EFA EUL/NGL Seats won 2 / 27 2 / 27 2 / 27 Seat change 2 2 1 Popular vote 352.201 349.156 332.326 Percentage 7,39% 7,33% 6,97% Swing 4,46% new 1,93%   Seventh party Eighth party   Leader Hans Blokland Sophie in 't Veld Party CU-SGP D66 Alliance ID ALDE Seats won 2 / 27 1 / 27 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 279.880 202.502 Percentage 5,87% 4,25 Swing 2,27% 1,55%

The European Parliament election of 2004 in the Netherlands was the election of MEP representing Netherlands constituency for the 2004-2009 term of the European Parliament. It was part of the wider 2004 European election. It was held on June 10, 2004. Fifteen parties competed in a D'Hondt type election for 27 seats. (down from 31).

Several parties combined in one list to take part in this European Election and increase their chance on a seat in the European Parliament. These combined lists are:

Several parties formed an electoral alliance:

The alliance between Christian Democratic Appeal and ChristianUnion/SGP cost the Christian Democratic Appeal a seat, which goes to ChristianUnion/SGP. Other alliances had no effect on the result.

The exact number of seats allocated to each country is determined by the treaties, currently the Treaty of Nice, and is adjusted by the accession treaty of each new member. Hence no change to the seats occurs without ratification by all states. According to the treaties, the maximum number of members in the Parliament is 732. This why the seats for the Netherlands was reduced from 31 to 27

According to the European Commission, the publication of national results prior to Sunday evening is considered illegal. However, all the municipalities in the Netherlands published the results on Thursday, giving the media the opportunity to give an almost complete national result, only missing votes cast abroad. The complete and official result were publicized according to the rules.

The ruling centre-right parties, the Christian Democratic Appeal and the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy polled poorly, while the opposition Labour Party and Socialist Party gained ground. The anti-fraud party Europe Transparent of whistle blower Paul van Buitenen unexpectedly won two seats.

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