Europe, Elections | featured news

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's center-right bloc suffered a comprehensive defeat in Sunday's local elections, but managed to cling on to power in one mainland region to avoid a whitewash, exit polls said.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown faced a challenge to his leadership Wednesday from within his own Labour Party, months before a national election that disaffected Labour supporters believe he is sure to lose.

Chancellor Angela Merkel wins Germany's election, exit polls say, and may have enough votes to build a centre-right coalition.