The surprise showing by Jean-Marie Le Pen in yesterday's French presidential elections made front page headlines across Europe today.
Swedish tabloid Aftonbladetcalled the election "an insult to democracy,"and a headline in Rome daily La Repubblicaread "France, Earthquake Le Pen".
In Sweden, Prime Minister Mr Goeran Persson was quoted by the Dagens Nyheternewspaper as saying "all democratic forces must be united against right-wing extremist politics and xenophobia".
Greek government spokesman Mr Christos Protopappas said the rise of the far right shows "a danger for democracy, for social cohesion and the perspective of Europe." His remarks appeared in the Eleftherotypianewspaper.
EU Commissioner Mr Neil Kinnock said he was "astounded and horrified" by Le Pen's success. The result "throws a great dirty rock into the European political pool," he said.
Belgian Foreign Minister Mr Louis Michel said he was "saddened that a non-democrat made it into the second round of the elections. "Fortunately, Jacques Chirac, who has always opposed Le Pen, is leading and he will win the elections," Michel said.
In Copenhagen, the governing Liberal Party's foreign policy spokesman, Mr Troels Lund Poulsen, said the outcome was "a shocking experience.
"I see the election result as an expression of powerlessness and that French politicians have not been in sufficient dialogue with the electorate," the Danish politician said, citing low voter turnout.