CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: EU Elections 2024: Millions across Europe Head to the Polls on Final Day of Voting to Elect New European Parliament
CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: EU Elections 2024: Millions across Europe Head to the Polls on Final Day of Voting to Elect New European Parliament [#EUElections2024 #UseYourVote]
https://x.com/Europarl_EN/status/1799743246807212423
Source: European Parliament X Account, @Europarl_EN
The European elections are happening right now! Don’t miss your last opportunity to #UseYourVote today. #EUelections2024
Polling booths opened across Europe on Sunday, with voters from 20 nations casting ballots in elections that are likely to push the European Union’s parliament to the right, potentially reshaping the world’s largest trading bloc.
The crisis in Ukraine, migration, and the impact of climate policies on farmers are among the concerns that voters will consider as they cast ballots to elect 720 members of the European Parliament.
According to surveys, mainstream and pro-European parties will maintain their parliamentary majority, but the far right, led by figures such as the Netherlands’ Geert Wilders and France’s Marine Le Pen, will eat into their seats.
This would make it difficult for Europe to pass legislation and make decisions.
EU parliamentarians have a role in everything from banking regulations to climate and agricultural policies.
They approve the EU budget, which funds priorities such as infrastructure projects, farm subsidies, and aid to Ukraine.
Furthermore, they have a veto over the selection of the powerful EU commission.
This election comes at a critical time for voter confidence in a bloc of around 450 million people.
Over the previous 5 years, the EU has been jolted by the coronavirus pandemic, an economic downturn, and an energy crisis fueled by Europe’s largest land battle since World War II.
However, political campaigns frequently focus on topics of significance in specific countries rather than broader European interests.
Sunday’s voting marathon concludes a 4-day election cycle that began in the Netherlands on Thursday.
An unofficial exit poll there predicted that Geert Wilders’ anti-migrant far right party will make significant gains in the Netherlands, despite the fact that a coalition of pro-European parties has most likely pushed it to second place.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, whose nation holds the EU’s rotating presidency till the end of the month, cast his ballot in the Flanders area, warning that Europe is “at a crossroads” and “more under pressure than ever.”
Since the last EU election in 2019, populist or far-right parties have led governments in 3 countries: Hungary, Slovakia, and Italy, and they are part of ruling coalitions in Sweden, Finland, and, soon, the Netherlands.
Polls show that populists have an advantage in France, Belgium, Austria, and Italy.
Following the election, there is a period of horse-trading as political parties reevaluate their positions in the continent-wide political alliances that control the European legislature.
The largest political party, the center-right European People’s Party (EPP), has shifted right during the current elections on issues such as security and migration.
Unofficial estimates are expected to trickle in beginning around 1615 GMT.
Official results of the polls, which take place every 5 years, will begin to be announced after the last voting stations in the 27 EU states close in Italy at 11 PM (2100 GMT), but a clear picture of what the new parliament will look like will not emerge until Monday.
The European elections are happening right now! Don't miss your last opportunity to #UseYourVote today. #EUelections2024 pic.twitter.com/c0a6mJKdxV
— European Parliament (@Europarl_EN) June 9, 2024
NEWS SOURCE & LINKS:
AP News
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