By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Voting was underway in most of the 27 European Union member states Sunday, the final and most significant day of European Parliament elections, amid concerns about the war in Ukraine, which seeks to join the EU, and issues such as migration. Polls ahead of what has been dubbed Super Sunday suggest far-right and moderate right-wing parties are due to make gains.
Voters in 21 EU countries, including large nations such as Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and Poland, headed to the polls Sunday to choose the new European Parliament.
The EU vote, in which close to 400 million Europeans could participate, came while the continent witnessed polarised politics over issues ranging from the ongoing war in Ukraine to increased nationalism and migration.
Far-right and moderate right-wing parties are expected to make gains. Still, up to 100,000 Hungarians gathered at Budapest’s Heroes Square to support the oppositional new Tisza party led by Peter Magyar, who is due to get a third of the votes.
Among them is 53-year-old architect Imre Dénes who agrees with Brussels that high-level corruption should be tackled in Hungary. “I am very angry because our government and Orban have stolen every single euro cent from the people and the European Union,” he told Worthy News.
Earlier, many attended a massive peace march by Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán.
His Fidesz party was expected to get most of the 21 seats allocated to Hungary, partly because he opposes sending weapons to Ukraine, suggested his supporter Eszter Kovács, a 23-year-old primary school teacher. “I am a conservative Hungarian woman, and I like Orbán and my country, Hungary. I don’t want war, and I worry about my children and our future,” she explained to a Worthy News reporter.
However, Hungary’s share in the European Parliament is tiny compared to Italy, which will hold 76 of the 720 seats in the new parliament. Experts say Italy could play a crucial role in deciding the balance of power in the bloc.
Polls suggest that the Italian prime minister’s Brothers of Italy party could decide the political fate of the EU’s executive European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen, who seeks a second term.
Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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