Helsinki - Three of the four parties in the Finnish government were each set to loose a seat in the European Parliament, according to the tally of advance votes announced Sunday evening when polling stations closed. The Nordic country elects 13 members of parliament, one less than in 2004 when turnout was some 39 per cent.
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen's Centre Party lost one of its four seats, but former premier Anneli Jaatteenmaki was on track for another term in Brussels, projections compiled by public broadcaster YLE said.
Finance Minister Jyrki Katainen's conservative National Coalition Party also lost a seat, but - unlike the Centre Party - kept its share of the vote.
The Greens kept their one seat while the Swedish People's Party that is also part of the government lost its single seat.
The opposition Social Democrats were set to keep their three seats, the tally suggested.
The count suggested that a 50-year-old Orthodox priest, Father Mitro - or Mitro Repo - who ran as an independent candidate for the Social Democrats would win a seat.
The populist True Finns Party, the opposition Left Alliance and Christian Democrats each won one seat.
Polling stations closed at 8 pm (1700 GMT). Final results will be announced later on Sunday when voting has ended across the European Union.
