In Netherlandswhich was the country where the elections were inaugurated, is the main force behind Freedom Party (PVV, for its acronym in Dutch), led by Geert Wilders. Other examples are the right-wing forces of Poland, Finland, Slovakia, Croatia and Austria.
This way, the extreme right has 18% of the seats in Parliament. A number that has every chance of increasing once the elections are over, thus marking a more than strong presence on the European continent.
How many parliamentarians are elected in each country
It should be noted that the number of MEPs elected in the next elections is strictly related to the countries’ population. Germany has 96 seats, being the one with the most; and they follow her France with 81, Italy with 76 and Spain with 61. In contrast, countries with smaller populations, such as Cyprus, Luxembourg and maltcount on six each.
According to the founding Treaties, The maximum number of seats allowed is 752. This year, there are a total of 720 MEPs, who directly represent European citizens as such and as a whole, not their respective States of origin.
Parliamentary elections in Europe: key countries
The French far-right leader is expected to Marine Le Pen and nationalist and anti-immigration ideas that he has been defending for a long time are the big winners in the EU elections. Pollsters expect his National Rally party to win the most seats, which would represent a big distance from the president’s party. Emmanuel Macron.
The National Group’s leading European Parliament candidate, Jordan Bardella, promises to limit the free movement of migrants within the EU’s open borders and reduce climate rules.
Many French voters will use the EU elections to express their dissatisfied with Macron’s management of the economy, agricultural rules and security. That could hurt him as he tries to lead European-level efforts to defend Ukraine and boost the EU’s own defenses and industry.
On the left, polls show a surprising resurgence of France’s Socialist Party behind front-runner Raphael Glucksmann, who promises more ambitious climate policy and protections for European businesses and workers. Some left-wing voters are frustrated with the strong pro-Palestinian stance of the influential far-left France Insoumise party.
France has the largest Jewish community in Europe, as well as one of the largest Muslim populations, and the war between Israel and Hamas became a flashpoint in the election campaign.
In Germany the three parties of the chancellor’s unpopular centre-left ruling coalition Olaf Scholz they risk being punished by voters because of their persistent disputes and a weak economy.
The main centre-right opposition hopes to benefit and maintain its position as the strongest German party in Brussels as it looks ahead to national elections scheduled for autumn next year.
But much attention will be paid to the performance of the far-right Alternative for Germany, which has been having strong support over the past year despite a series of setbacks ahead of the European elections. Among them are the scandals surrounding its two main candidates for the EU legislature.
The veteran Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbanextend his party’s nearly 15-year streak of electoral victories when the Central European country votes in the European Parliament elections on Sunday, but faces one of the most formidable challenges of his career from a former ally.
Orban’s right-wing populist Fidesz party has won more than 50% of the vote in the last three EU elections and looks set to get the most votes again this year. But a new opposition force, led by a former Fidesz member turned critic, has grown in a matter of weeks to become Hungary’s largest opposition party and will likely cause Fidesz to lose at least one seat in parliament.
Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, which has neo-fascist roots, is predicted to will increase its number of seats in the European Parliament from seven in the last electionswhich could expand its influence in the EU.
Their pro-Ukraine and Israel policies have proven reassuring to her American and European centrist allies, but she is leading culture wars at home that preserve her far-right credentials.
In Italy, The vote is not expected to destabilize the government, even if Meloni’s advantage will be at the expense of his partners in the ruling coalition, the populist, anti-immigrant right-wing Lega, led by Matteo Salvini, and the centrist party. The right-wing Forza Italia, headed by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
Polling data predicts that Brothers of Italy will win about a quarter of the vote, on par with the 2022 national election results, but well ahead of the last European parliamentary vote in 2019. Polls indicate that the The center-left Democratic Party will take second place, followed by the opposition 5 Star Movement.
What is the European Parliament and how does it work?
He European Parliament It is one of the seven institutions that confirm the European Union, and the only legislative one whose Members are elected directly by citizenswhich gives crucial importance to your votes.
As the experts explain, the results that emerge from the polls “will shape the balance of forces and leadership in other key institutions: the Commission, the Council presidency and several other powers that oil the EU machinery.” Furthermore, they point out that these elections “will be critical not only for the Union itself, but also for the world in general.”
For its part, the parliamentary body defends the interests of the citizens of the European Union at a continental level, covering issues ranging from the economy and the fight against poverty to climate change and security.
Together with the Council of the European Union, parliamentarians modify and approve legislation of the EU, including multi-year and annual budget. In addition, they deal with issues such as human rights, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law.
For this year’s elections, the number of deputies that make up the legislative body increased to 720 seats compared to 705 previouslyas two additional places have been allocated to Spain, France and the Netherlands, and one more to Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Poland, Finland, Slovakia, Ireland, Slovenia and Latvia.
Source: Ambito
