In fact, though the EPP won 29% of the seats, versus 24% for the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), the S&D can claim victory. After all, its affiliated parties at the national level won a greater number of votes – a combined total of 40 million, compared to 39.9 million for parties affiliated with the EPP.
事实上，尽管欧洲人民党赢得了29%的席位，而社会党和民主党进步联盟（Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats，简称S&D）只获得了24%，但后者仍可以宣布获胜。毕竟，S&D旗下政党在国家层面赢得了更多选票——加起来达到了4,000万，超过了欧洲人民党旗下政党的3,990万。差距很小，但毫无疑问S&D的支持率更高（24.4%对23.8%）。