Around 400 million citizens of the European Union are called to the polls next month to elect the members of the European Parliamentor MEPs, in one of the largest democratic events in the world.
Far-right parties are seeking to capitalize on discontent over rising costs of living and farmers’ protests, while wars in Ukraine and Gaza will be on voters’ minds. One of the big unknowns is whether the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will continue in office as the most visible face of the EU.
Below, a look at the upcoming elections and the main issues at stake:
When is the vote?
European elections are held every five years in the 27 countries of the bloc. This year’s elections will be the 10th parliamentary elections since 1979, and the first since Brexit.
Voting will take place between June 6 and 9, and the first results will be made public on Sunday evening, once the polling stations have closed in all member states.
How does voting work?
The elections begin on a Thursday in the Netherlands and will end on a Sunday, when they will be held in most countries. It is a vote by direct universal suffrage on a single ballot.
The number of deputies elected in each country depends on its population. It oscillates between six representatives from Malta, Luxembourg and Cyprus, and 96 from Germany. In 2019, 751 MEPs were elected. After the departure of the United Kingdom in 2020, the number of seats was reduced to 705, and part of the 73 seats that corresponded to the country have been distributed among other partners.
After the election, the European Parliament will have 15 more members for a total of 720. Twelve countries will gain additional MEPs. The existing parties in each country participate in the elections, but once elected, the majority of legislators join transnational political groups.
Who votes?
In most community partners, the minimum voting age is 18 years old. But there are exceptions: in Belgium, a law approved in 2022 lowered the minimum age to 16 years, something that already happens in Germany, Malta and Austria; In Greece it can be done from the age of 17. There is also a minimum age to stand for election, 18 years old, except in Italy and Greece, where the candidate must have turned 25.
What about participation?
European Union elections do not usually have a large turnout, but in 2019 there was a clear uptick in public interest. With a 50.7%participation was eight points higher than that of five years before, after a continuous decline since the first, in 1979, when the 62%.
In April, the latest edition of the European Parliament’s Eurobarometer highlighted the increase in electoral interest. Around the 71% of Europeans said they were likely to vote.
What are the main problems?
Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine is at the top of the list of concerns for EU citizens, and defense and security are considered key issues in this election campaign. At the national level, defense and security are the first concern in nine partners.
The economy, employment, poverty and social exclusion, public health, climate change and the future of Europe also feature prominently in the debate.
What do MEPs do?
The European Parliament is the only community institution elected by citizens. It is a real counterweight to the powerful executive arm of the EU, the European Commission.
Parliament does not have the power to propose laws, but its powers are increasing. It now has powers over a wide range of issues, voting on laws related to climate change, banking, agriculture and fishing regulations, or security and justice. The legislature is also responsible for approving the EU budget, which is crucial for the implementation of community policies, including, for example, the delivery of aid to Ukraine.
In addition, MEPs are also a key element in the system of checks and balances, as they must approve the appointment of all EU commissioners, a position equivalent to that of a minister. And they can force the resignation of the entire Commission with a vote with a two-thirds majority of the chamber.
What is the current composition of parliament?
With 176 of the 705 seats at the end of the last plenary session in April, the center-right European People’s Party is the largest political group in the chamber. Von der Leyen belongs to the EPP and hopes to continue leading the Commission after the elections.
The second is the S&D, the group formed by the center-left Party of European Socialists, with 139 sites. The liberal and pro-European group Renew Europe occupies 102 seats, while the alliance formed by the Greens and the regionalists has 72.
The extreme right seeks to advance
Two groups with far-right parties, European Conservatives and Reformists and Identity and Democracy, could be on their way to becoming the third and fourth forces in the European Parliament. The two have many differences and it is not clear to what extent they could ally and influence the EU agenda, especially the bloc’s efforts to support Ukraine in the war against Russia.
The EPP and S&D are expected to remain stable, while the Liberals and Greens could suffer a setback after their significant gains in the last elections.
What will happen after the elections?
Once the weight of each political force is determined, MEPs will elect the president of the chamber in their first plenary session, between July 16 and 19. Then, probably in September and after weeks of negotiations, they will nominate the president of the European Commission at the proposal of the member states.
In 2019, von der Leyen managed to become the first woman to head the institution by a narrow majority (383 votes in favor, 327 against and 22 abstentions). Parliamentarians will also listen to the commissioners before approving their appointment in a single vote.
Von der Leyen has a chance of being re-elected for a second term, but she has to gain the support of enough leaders. Additionally, she has alienated many lawmakers by suggesting that she could work with the far right depending on the outcome of the election.
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Source: Gestion
Ricardo is a renowned author and journalist, known for his exceptional writing on top-news stories. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he is known for his ability to deliver breaking news and insightful analysis on the most pressing issues of the day.
