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FAR-RIGHT SURGE IN ELECTIONS SHAKES UP EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
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Ana Vračar
June 10, 2024
Peoples Dispatch
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_ Far right gains means European policies will likely shift in
direction of security, austerity, and migration restrictions, despite
hundreds of thousands of people across the region taking regularly to
the streets in support peace and social justice. _
,
The European Union woke up to a grim reality, albeit with few
surprises
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after the European Parliament elections
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As predicted by polls, far-right parties emerged gleeful. According to
preliminary results, combined, the European Conservatives and
Reformists (ECR) and Identity and Democracy (ID) groups secured only
four fewer seats than the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and
Democrats (S&D), the second-largest group in parliament. Including
mandates won by unaffiliated parties close to ECR and ID, the
far-right easily overtakes the center.
The conservative European People’s Party (EPP) received 186 of the
720 seats, and remains the largest group in parliament. The EPP has
led the European policy cycle relying on support from parts of the
S&D, the liberal group Renew, and the Greens since 2019. Early reports
indicate that this agreement might hold a majority for another cycle,
though the EPP may still decide to shift further right to secure a
more stable vote.
Renew and the Greens lost the most seats in the European Parliament.
After significant gains in 2019, the Greens are expected to lose some
18 seats. This drop is particularly notable in Germany
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Party is part of the federal coalition government, but got less than
12% of the votes in this election. In contrast, the far-right
Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured second place in the European
election with over 15% of the votes.
PRESIDENT MACRON CALLS FOR SNAP ELECTION PROMPTED BY NATIONAL RALLY
TRIUMPH
Liberals fared even worse, losing 23 seats according to preliminary
results. French President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party
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serious enough to prompt Macron to dissolve the National Assembly and
call for a snap election by the end of June. Marine Le Pen’s
National Rally secured more than double European seats compared to
Renaissance.
In the light of this, Macron’s call is seen as a final attempt to
appeal to French voters’ pragmatism to avoid the far-right coming
into power on the national level. “I have confidence in our
democracy, in letting the sovereign people have their say. I’ve
heard your message, your concerns, and I won’t leave them
unanswered,” Macron said.
Meanwhile, in Italy [[link removed]],
Giorgia Meloni’s ECR-affiliated Brothers of Italy dominated the
European election. Securing almost 30% of the votes, Meloni’s party
outperformed its national coalition partners, the Lega and Forza
Italia. The surprise, however, came from the center and left to the
center. The Democratic Party, led by Elly Schlein, and the Greens and
Left Alliance (AVS) performed better than expected, securing 24% and
6.7% of the votes, respectively.
The AVS included Ilaria Salis, a teacher imprisoned
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Hungary for participating in antifascist demonstrations, on its list.
This was a move aimed to secure her release by getting her elected to
the European Parliament, prompted by indications that her case has
rapidly transformed into political persecution.
THE LEFT REMAINS STABLE, WORKERS’ PARTY GROWS STRONGER IN BELGIUM
Hungary [[link removed]]’s Prime
Minister Viktor Orbán faces challenges beyond the Salis case. His
party, Fidesz, suffered a serious blow by the opposition party Tisza,
led by former Fidesz member Peter Magyar. Fidesz still emerged as the
relative winner of the election in Hungary, but the falling share of
support may indicate a weakening
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the party’s control over Hungary’s governance and economy.
Despite the general bleakness, there were glimmers of hope on election
night. In France, La France Insoumise secured nearly 10% of the vote,
strengthening its representation in the European Parliament. In
Belgium, the Workers’ Party (PTB-PVDA) gained an extra seat
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performed well in local elections, securing 20% of the votes
in Brussels District
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“By sending Rudi Kennes to the EU Parliament, we are sending a
former shop steward from Opel-Antwerp: a spokesman for the working
class, with a megaphone for the social struggles in Europe,” said
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Raoul Hedebouw following the election.
The Left group in the European Parliament remained stable, with
representatives elected from different parts of the EU, and votes
still to be counted in Ireland.
The election was also marked by low turnouts. Italy
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below 50% turnout for the first time, and many countries on the
EU’s periphery
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not reach 40%. Croatia recorded the lowest turnout at barely 21%.
Final results will be confirmed in the coming days, followed by
negotiations on parliamentary support and candidates for the European
Commission and European Council. The makeup of the majority will
influence both parliamentary voting and policy content. With the far
right’s strength, European policies are likely to shift in the same
direction. This will mean the continuation of the emphasis on
security, austerity, and migration restrictions, despite hundreds of
thousands of people across the region taking regularly to the streets
in support of peace and social justice.
* European elections
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* far right
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