Massive Voting Underway In Europe At Time Of War

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

BRUSSELS/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – In the second-biggest exercise in democracy behind India’s recent elections, almost 400 million voters will elect 720 members of the European Parliament (EP) from beyond the Arctic circle to the edges of Africa and Asia at a time when Europe faces its most significant armed conflict since World War Two.

The outcome of the four-day vote, which began Thursday, will impact anything from Russia’s war against Ukraine and defense to relations with Israel, global climate policies, migration, and geopolitical ties with China and the United States.

For the longest time, the EP elections had little importance, with critics saying the legislature looked like a retirement home for elderly national politicians and an incubator for young talent.

Legislators had little power and couldn’t even decide where to gather permanently, causing a multi-billion euros (dollars) moving circus between Brussels, Belgium, and Strasbourg, France.

And as core members France and Germany set much of the policy for the ever-increasing group, the well-paid politicians had little say in European affairs.

But as the legislature’s powers grew on issues like banking rules, agriculture, and the EU budget, so did voting interest and the quality of legislators, polls suggest.

While breaking a 50 percent voter turnout threshold was considered a major step forward in 2019, an EU Parliament survey claims 71 percent could vote in the upcoming elections, another massive step forward.

RIGHTWING BLOC

Far-right and more moderate rightwing parties are expected to do well at a time of mounting concerns over migration, with millions arriving, many from Islamic nations as well as wartorn Ukraine.

A projection by poll aggregator Europe Elects forecast at the end of May that out of the 720 seats available in the EP, the Group of the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) would win 180, the center-left Progressive Alliance of Socialists And Democrats (S&D) 138, and the liberal, centrist Renew Europe (RE) 86.

The European Parliament is the only directly elected body of the European Union representing the citizens of its 27 member states.

Its primary functions include negotiating EU laws with the member state governments, represented by the European Council. The EP also approves the EU budget and votes on international agreements and enlargements of the bloc.

In 21 member states, people aged 18 and above can vote. The minimum voting age in Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Malta is 16.

In Greece, people who turn 17 during the election year can cast ballots, while in Hungary, married individuals can vote regardless of age.

It comes after turbulent campaigns, including sometimes violent attacks. In Slovakia, the election season was also overshadowed by the assassination attempt of Prime Minister Robert Fico, who narrowly survived after suffering several gunshot wounds.

SECOND TERM?

Ursula von der Leyen hopes to be selected as the EU’s executive European Commission president for a second term.

However, that may be difficult as she may face a considerably more hostile EP after the June 6-9 EU election.

Critics have questioned her controversial campaign against so-called “misinformation” that they say could make it more difficult for alternative media to have their day in the European debate and her embrace of digital currencies.

The elections will be watched from a distance in Britain, which left the rich club at 11:00 pm local time on January 31, 2020.

Yet over four years later, sharp differences remain over Britain’s exit, or Brexit, from the EU: On Wednesday, a 25-year-old British woman was charged with assault after Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage was doused with an apparent milkshake during his campaign launch, police said.

Farage, the newly appointed leader of the anti-immigration Reform UK party, was covered in what appeared to be a banana milkshake after emerging from a pub thronged by crowds.

Essex Police said Victoria Thomas Bowen was charged with assault on Wednesday by beating and criminal damage in connection with the incident in Clacton-on-Sea on Tuesday.

A statement said she will appear at Colchester Magistrates Court on July 2.

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