This picture reveals the flags of European international locations flying in entrance of the European Parliament constructing in Strasbourg, jap France, on June 6, 2024. Photograph by Xinhua Information Company through Getty Pictures)
Sébastien Bozon | AFP | Getty Pictures
The ultimate and largest voting day of the EU elections takes place on Sunday, with tens of millions of individuals anticipated to solid their votes.
Estonians began voting three days early on Monday and polling stations have since opened throughout the 27 EU member states. Most votes will probably be solid on Sunday.
Greater than 400 million persons are eligible to vote for the 720 members of the European Parliament (MEP). In some international locations, this contains younger folks – the voting age is 16 in Austria, Belgium, Germany and Malta, and 17 in Greece. Voter turnout on the final EU elections in 2019 was simply over 50%, in keeping with official figures.
Exit polls up to now
This yr’s elections come in opposition to a backdrop of rising help for far-right events in Europe, lots of that are additionally more and more profitable at dwelling.
Amongst them is the anti-immigration social gathering led by Dutch nationalist Geert Wilders, which made vital beneficial properties in Thursday’s Dutch EU elections, in keeping with the most recent exit polls. The nation’s left-wing Labor Social gathering and the Greens are solely barely forward of Wilders’ Liberal Social gathering (PVV). Wilders additionally gained a decisive victory within the Dutch nationwide election final November.
Along with the Netherlands, voting has additionally ended within the Czech Republic, Malta, Latvia, Slovakia and Eire.
EU-wide exit polls are anticipated to be launched afterward Sunday and can present a robust indication of what the EU parliament will seem like within the coming years.
european parliament
EU elections happen each 5 years, through which residents vote for his or her nation’s political events or MEPs to symbolize them inside the EU.
Voting techniques differ barely from nation to nation, however residents can typically vote for a similar events in EU elections as in nationwide elections. The events then type an alliance within the EU Parliament.
For instance, the European Folks’s Social gathering, which gained probably the most seats within the 2019 EU basic election, consists of MEPs from Christian Democrats, Liberal Conservatives and Conservative events within the EU.
The 720 MEPs come from all 27 EU international locations – probably the most populous nation elects probably the most MEPs. Germany tops the listing with 96 MEPs, whereas Cyprus, Luxembourg and Malta have the fewest representatives, with six every.
MEPs formulate and resolve on the legal guidelines and rules of EU member states to deal with social, financial, local weather, protection and different points. One instance is the Digital Companies Act, which goals to deal with unlawful and dangerous content material on-line and which expertise corporations resembling social media giants should now adjust to in Europe.
Analysts count on EU insurance policies to change into extra protectionist after the election, with protection more likely to change into a higher focus, whereas local weather and environmental coverage fall off the agenda.
The European Parliament additionally performs a task within the EU funds, which requires approval and oversight, and elects the President of the European Fee, one of many key roles inside the EU.
