On June 9, 2024, Europeans in 20 countries went to the polls for the European Parliament elections. The final day of voting marked a significant moment in shaping the next five years of European Union (EU) policies. With over 300 million voters participating across the EU's 27 member states, this election held substantial implications for various aspects such as climate, migration, Ukraine, and the Middle East.
The European Parliament plays a crucial role in approving or rejecting EU legislation. This includes the bloc's budget and appointing the president of the European Commission – a powerful executive branch within the EU. In 2019, Ursula von der Leyen, a conservative, narrowly secured approval as commission president with just nine votes.
However, polls predicted gains for hard-right parties in this election and a shrinking center. This could potentially force compromises with radical right-wing parties to secure appointments and risk losing centrist support.
The elections took place against the backdrop of increased nationalism and polarized politics. In some countries, such as France, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Germany, and others – voters cast their ballots for various political parties. For instance,
- France's National Rally
- Italy's Brothers of Italy
- Austria's Freedom Party
- Belgium's separatist and anti-immigration party Vlaams Belang These parties have been successful domestically, raising concerns about the potential impact on EU policies.
The European Parliament elections are held every five years. In 2024, for the first time, 16- and 17-year-olds were eligible to vote in Germany and Belgium. The results of these elections were expected to be announced on Monday.
