The European Parliament is poised for a rightward shift in voting. This is after voters in 21 EU countries will conclude a four-day election for the Parliament on Sunday.
The election will shape how the European Union confronts challenges including a hostile Russia, increased industrial rivalry from China and the United States, climate change and immigration.
European liberals, green parties expected to lose
Elections for the European Parliament began on Thursday in the Netherlands and in other countries on Friday and Saturday. France, Germany, Poland and Spain will open the polls and Italy will hold a second day of voting.
Opinion polls predict pro-European liberals and Greens will lose seats. This will reduce the majority of the centre-right and centre-left and complicate efforts to push through new EU laws.
The cost of living has hit many voters. They have concerns about migration and the cost of the green transition. The Ukraine war is also a factor. The far right parties have seized on this and are offering an alternative to the mainstream.
European far-right parties expected to come up in major countries
Expectations are that Marine Le Pen’s far-right Rassemblement National will trounce French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist Renaissance in France. Exit polls showed nationalist Geert Wilders’ set to win seven of 29 Dutch seats in the EU assembly. This is up from zero in 2019.
With inputs from Reuters
