America News Agency

Early EU election results indicate that populist, far-right parties could have a bigger hand in European policymaking over the next five years.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was down just before the closing, with construction stocks leading the losses, down 1.5 percent.

The euro slipped 0.5 percent against the U.S. dollar and 0.46 percent against the British pound.

The election drama was rounded off Sunday evening when French President Emmanuel Macron called snap parliamentary elections later this month after a heavy defeat in the EU vote.

France’s CAC 40 index was down 1.7 percent in afternoon deals, with French banks sharply lower following the shock news. Societe Generale and BNP Paribas shares fell 8 percent and 5 percent, respectively.