Netherlands kicks off 4 days of European Union elections across 27 nations

By MIKE CORDER
Associated Press

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Polls have opened in the Netherlands to kick off four days of voting in European Union parliamentary elections across the 27 member states that are expected to deliver gains for the hard right. Estonians can cast their ballots across six days that started Monday, but the Netherlands is the only EU country to hold its single-day vote Thursday. It will be followed by Ireland on Friday and the rest of the EU nations over the weekend. Results are expected Sunday evening. The Dutch voting comes six months after Geert Wilders’ far-right party became the biggest party in the national parliament. Polling suggests it will build on that popularity at the EU elections, which may set the tone for the election.