VOICED: Euro elections: Ambivalence reigns

The 2009 European parliamentary elections began with Britain and the Netherlands voting early. Euroskeptic and extremist parties, like the Dutch Party of Freedom, gained significant support due to voter ambivalence. The UK Independence Party also saw potential growth, driven by dissatisfaction with the British government. Voter turnout was low, with only 36% in the Netherlands, and similar trends were seen across the EU. Despite these shifts, the conservative European People's Party coalition was expected to maintain the most seats in the European Parliament.

What factors are likely to punish most of Europe's governing parties according to the text?

Which coalition is expected to retain the highest number of MEPs in the European Parliament?