Europe Prepares for Elections Amid Economic Challenges and Right-Wing Surge
Europe is gearing up for elections following five challenging years marked by the global pandemic, inflation, and war, with far-right parties expected to increase their seats in the European Parliament (EP). Approximately 400 million voters across the 27 EU member states will head to the polls from June 6th to 9th.
The elections will determine the members of the EP, which will legislate on EU laws and approve its budget for the next five years.
Each country's number of Members of European Parliament (MEPs) is proportionate to its population, and for the first time, 720 MEPs will be elected instead of the previous 705.
With the voting age lowered in some countries, voters under 18 will participate for the first time, adding to the electorate. Germany, Austria, Belgium, and Malta have reduced the voting age to 16, while it's 17 in Greece.
According to the Eurobarometer survey conducted by the European Statistical Office (Eurostat) in December 2023, 57% of the population is interested in the elections, with 68% expressing willingness to vote.
The EP currently consists of seven political groups, ranging from the center-right European People's Party (EPP) to the left-wing Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance.
The upcoming elections are anticipated to see a rise in far-right representation, with parties under the Identity and Democracy (ID) umbrella expected to gain more seats. Eurosceptic and nationalist parties, predominantly from the far-right, are poised to make significant gains, potentially reshaping the EP's dynamics.
Issues such as economic difficulties, the conflict in Ukraine, migration crises, and climate change are expected to influence voter preferences. The outcome of the elections will determine the direction of EU policies in the coming years, impacting various aspects of European governance and decision-making.
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