One of the world’s largest democratic exercises is underway, with approximately 373 million people across the European Union eligible to vote in elections for the next European Parliament. From Thursday to Sunday, voters in the EU’s 27 nations will elect 720 members to the parliament, which will play a crucial role in shaping the bloc’s priorities and political direction for the next five years.
This election comes at a pivotal moment for the EU, which is grappling with issues ranging from the wars in Ukraine and Gaza to immigration and climate change. Polls predict significant gains for hard-right parties in several countries, which could have long-term implications for the continent.
The elections are held over four days every five years in June. This year, they are taking place between June 6 and 9. Despite being elections to an EU institution, they are managed as national ballots by each of the EU’s 27 member states. Some countries may hold elections daily, while others spread them over several days.
All elections employ a proportional representation system, where the number of lawmakers elected directly correlates to the percentage of votes they receive. Once votes are counted, each national political party is assigned several members of the European Parliament (MEPs) relative to their vote share. MEPs can then join a European political party, allowing them to sit in groups based on shared beliefs. The larger the grouping, the more influence it has in parliament.
The European Parliament primarily sits in Brussels, Belgium, but moves monthly to Strasbourg, France. It is the legislative branch of the EU and one of the bloc’s three main institutions, along with the European Commission and the European Council. It is the only EU institution where representatives are directly elected, and MEPs pass laws that apply across the bloc. For any legislation to be implemented, both the council and parliament must agree.
One of the parliament’s crucial roles is approving the makeup of the commission, which is responsible for the political direction of the world’s largest trading bloc. The parliament has the final say on who is appointed as president of the commission, currently held by Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen, who is seeking a second term. Additionally, the parliament has ultimate approval over the EU budget and often has the final word on major policy issues such as trade and sanctions.
While the election is effectively 27 individual national elections, some issues resonate across the entire bloc. Broadly, immigration, climate change, security, and support for Ukraine are significant concerns.
Immigration remains a sensitive issue, with some countries bearing a disproportionate share of the burden. Climate change and the push to make Europe greener have been priorities, though the cost of cutting fossil fuel emissions has caused some backlash. The EU is largely united in its support for Ukraine, but this could change if populists like France’s Marine Le Pen gain power.
The 720 MEPs represent hundreds of domestic political parties, which form alliances based on shared beliefs to simplify parliamentary work. There are seven main groupings, ranging from the far right to the far left. The dominant groupings are the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) and the center-left Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D). Due to proportional representation, no single group has a majority, requiring broad coalitions to achieve anything in parliament.
It is expected that the EPP and S&D centrist coalition will largely hold. However, significant gains by the hard-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Identity and Democracy (ID) could result in more power for these groups in the next parliament. While the ECR and ID have not indicated they will work together, their rise reflects a broader trend of increasing far-right influence at both the European and national levels.
The possibility of the EU’s political center shifting is significant. If right-wing populists like Marine Le Pen gain power in national elections, it could impact the European Parliament’s dynamics, with potential changes in policies on immigration and climate change. The fluid nature of European politics means that much can change over five years, making this election a critical moment for the future of the EU.
