From June 6 to 9, the European Union's 27 member states held the quadrennial European Parliament elections, signaling a significant reshaping of Europe's political landscape. This election marks a continuation of Europe's trend towards fragmentation and diversity, introducing new dynamics that add uncertainty to the future direction of European politics and the balance of power within the EU.
As the first formal election following the UK's official Brexit, the number of seats in the European Parliament remained fixed at 720, despite the UK's departure. The EU has navigated a series of challenges between election terms, including Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Ukraine crisis. These events have notably influenced both the campaign agendas and the nature of competition and cooperation among political parties.
The election results underscore a persistent \"rightward shift and leftward retreat\" in European politics. Right-wing parties made gains, with the center-right European People's Party, the far-right Identity and Democracy group, and the European Conservatives and Reformists group winning 184, 73, and 58 seats respectively—an increase of eight, four, and nine seats. While far-right parties have gained ground, their growth was not explosive, nor did they supplant the centrist group Renew Europe as the third-largest faction in the European Parliament.
Conversely, traditional left-wing forces and centrist groups experienced declines. The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats maintained its 139 seats, whereas Renew Europe, the Greens–European Free Alliance, and the Left in the European Parliament saw reductions of 18, 18, and one seat respectively. The centrist and green-led trends observed in 2019 have since waned, contributing to the Parliament's increasing fragmentation.
Overall, the European Parliament's already diverse and complex composition is set to further disperse, highlighting deeper fragmentation and new characteristics that will shape the EU's political future.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
