On Sunday, June 9th, the European Parliament elections entered their final day. Voters from 21 member states headed to the polling stations to cast their votes. It is widely expected that this election will tilt the European Parliament to the right and potentially impact the future of the world’s largest trading bloc.
According to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters, issues such as the conflict in Ukraine, immigration, and the impact of climate policies on farmers were among the concerns of voters as they selected 720 Members of the European Parliament.
Surveys indicate that while mainstream and pro-European parties are likely to retain the majority of seats in the parliament, far-right parties are projected to gain more seats. This could make it challenging for Europe to pass legislation and make decisions on certain issues.
This past Sunday marked the end of a four-day marathon European Parliament election. The elections kicked off in the Netherlands on June 6th, with some member states holding their votes on Friday and Saturday, while the majority of countries, including France, Germany, Poland, Spain, and Belgium, cast their votes on Sunday.
An unofficial exit poll in the Netherlands suggested that despite the Alliance of pro-European parties possibly pushing Geert Wilders’ anti-immigrant right-wing party into second place, the party is still expected to make significant progress in this election.
The European Parliament announced that exit polls across the EU will be released at 8:30 p.m. Central European Time on Sunday. However, as polling stations in Italy close at 11 p.m. Central European Time, the first provisional results are not expected to be released until after 11 p.m., with the final election results likely to be clear by Monday.
Polls predict that pro-European liberal and Green parties may lose seats, reducing the majority of both the center-right and center-left in the parliament. This could complicate efforts to pass new EU laws or strengthen European integration.
This election will influence how the European Union, with a population of 450 million people, addresses challenges such as the China-Russia issue, climate change, and illegal immigration. Many voters are feeling the impact of high living costs and worry about issues related to illegal immigration and the costs of green transition. They are also uneasy about geopolitical tensions, including the conflict in Ukraine.
The European Parliament is the only EU institution directly elected by European citizens. While it does not have the power to propose legislation, it serves as a significant balancing force against the powerful EU Commission. It also holds veto power over the appointment of the EU Commission.
The European Parliament can vote on laws proposed by the EU Commission regarding a wide range of issues such as financial regulations, agriculture, fisheries, defense, security, justice, immigration, and climate. It can also vote on the EU budget (including aid to Ukraine), which is crucial for the implementation of European policies.
This election comes at a critical moment testing the confidence of European voters. Over the past five years, the EU has been shaken by the Covid-19 pandemic, economic downturn, and the energy crisis triggered by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo warned while voting on Sunday that Europe is at a “crossroads” and facing “greater pressure than ever before.”