Shift To Right In Parliament
- June 12th, 2009
- Posted by EUEditor
The European Parliament moved to the right following elections last week; voters concentrating especially on national or sometimes local issues, according to post-poll analyses.
This summary on the voting was provided by the European Commission:
“Voters across Europe have delivered gains for the centre-right with the Socialists losing ground.
“Results suggest that the centre-right European People’s party will retain their position as the largest group in the European Parliament.
“The 736 newly elected Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from 27 Member States will meet for the first time on 14 July in Strasbourg.
“Their first task will be to form themselves into trans-national political groups and then elect the Parliament’s Office Bearers, including a President and 14 Vice-Presidents. Twenty Committees from Foreign Affairs to Fisheries will be formed in the weeks after July 20.
“The voter turnout for the elections was 43%, slightly lower than the 44.4% in the 2004 elections when the then 25 Member States went to the polls.
“In welcoming the results of the EP elections, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the elections have sent ‘very clear signals that Europeans want a stable economy and a new financial system. Europeans want economic recovery that is smarter and greener and sustainable. They want a Europe that safeguards fundamental freedoms and security at the same time'”.
Most analysis as the voting was under way, and later, quoted polls indicating voters would stay with he conservative government parties in France and Germany, endorsing their management during the ecoinoimic crisis. There was a similar trend in Itay, and the Parliamentaryt expenses scandal had expecteed devastating effects on the out-of-favour Broiwn Labour government in the United Kingdom.Extreme right-wing parties running nartionalist anti-European campaigns, or attacking immigration, won seats.
The centre-right and centre-left blocs have been talking about organising a dual Presidency arrangement for the new parliament.
In Germany the swing is seen as a good omen for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats, ahead of national electtions set for 27.9.09.
Reference:
EC Delegation to Australia and NZ, Canberra, “European Parliament Elections 2009”, 12.6.09. [email protected], (12.6.09).
Simon Taylor and Tim King, “A common problem but plenty of different ways to respond”, European Voice, Brussels, 28.5 – 3.6.09, pp 6-7.