The Netherlands begins the 2024 European Championship: the main axes, alliances, and names eligible for the decisive positions

From our correspondent
Brussels – European elections that will bring together 720 deputies from 27 member states in Strasbourg It opens on Thursday, June 6 in the Netherlands and ends on Sunday, June 9, with polls closing in Italy at 11 p.m.. And the Great democratic practice in EuropeWhich includes 359 million citizens.

European elections, today’s news live

The new European Parliament will legislate Important files that will have a strong impact on the lives of citizens and companiesAnd start implementing Green goddessfrom Digital transformation. Then there is the relaunching of the competitiveness of European industry Completing the union of banks and capital marketsCreating a European defense. The external dimension of will must be addressed Immigration And ready for expansion. You will need to confirm and run it Military and financial support for Ukraine.

When do you vote?

Ireland votes on Friday, and Latvia, Malta and Slovakia on Saturday. In the Czech Republic, ballot boxes will open on Friday and Saturday in Italy Saturday and Sunday. The other twenty European Union countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden) will hold elections on Sunday.

the Preliminary results are expected around 11.15pm – 11.30pm And at that moment we will begin to understand how the vote went.

Groups

MEPs from national political parties in the European Parliament come together in transnational groups. In the legislative council that ends, there are seven groups: European People’s Party (Forza Italia), Social Democrats (Socialists and Democrats) and Renew Europe (Labour and Viva Italy); Conservatives of the ECR (Brothers of Italy), Identity and Democracy (Lega); Greens and left. In the past five years, the Five Star Movement has remained among the non-member states. Not joining a group means not participating in the division of tasks (chairs and vice-chairs, the role of rapporteur) nor in the division of funds. To form a group, you need at least 23 representatives from 27 countries.

The new European Parliament will consist of: 720 deputies, 15 more than the outgoing 705 deputies. Seats are distributed according to population: they range from a maximum of 96 seats in Germany to a minimum of six seats in Cyprus, Malta and Luxembourg. Italy has 76France 81 and Spain 61.

Latest opinion polls and potential alliances

In order to be able to rely in Europe you have to form an alliance. No group receives enough votes to govern alone. In the legislature that would expire, the majority was made up of populists, socialists, and liberals. This will also be the starting point for The new parliament. But compared to five years ago, the EPP will assert its strength, the Socialists will weaken slightly and the Renewal Liberals will lose their seats, at least according to EPP estimates. Latest opinion polls. They will be followed by the conservatives in the European Council, who have far-right parties such as the Polish Law Party. The Identity and Democracy group is also expected to grow, but the “security cordon” already in place towards Identity will remain in place, meaning its representatives will not be able to reach office.

Parliament will move slightly to the right The EPP wants to tip the balance even if it has three red lines that it does not intend to cross and cannot cross: it can only make alliances with pro-EU, pro-NATO, and pro-Ukrainian forces. It is difficult for far-right parties, which are internally divided on almost all issues, to form a supergroup This is what brings the parties of Meloni, Le Pen and Orban together, even if this is the goal of the Hungarian Prime Minister.

Who will head the Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament?

The Parliament renewal elections also launch a new session for the European Commission, which includes the appointment of EU leaders. There are four EU ‘top jobs’ up for grabs, which include the presidency of the Commission and the European Council, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the President of the European Parliament.Which actually chooses independently regarding the decisions of the leaders as happened in 2019 when the Chamber appointed David Sassoli At the helm of the bike is Bulgarian Sergey Stanishev. Negotiations for these positions will begin when the results of the poll are known because the parties will count each other.

When will we know who will be nominated?

Tuesday the 11th is the Conference of Presidents meeting. The informal dinner between the two leaders will be held on Monday, June 17 (but before that they had the opportunity to meet in various forms at the G7 in Puglia and at the peace conference in Ukraine organized in Switzerland). At the end of the dinner, most of them hope to reach a consensus that will allow the appointments to be formalized to the European Council on June 27-28. This would allow, if the European Chamber agrees, the election of the Commission President to go ahead actually in the Strasbourg session of the European Parliament in July, rather than in September.

Will Ursula von der Leyen be reappointed?

Until a few months ago The reconfirmation of Ursula von der Leyen as President of the Commission was taken for granted. After she entered the field (she is the leading candidate of the European People’s Party) and during the election campaign, the criticism directed at her multiplied, much of which could melt like snow in the sun once the polls close.

Names: From Antonio Costa to Estonian Kaja Kallas

At the moment, according to some observers, the most likely ticket is that of von der Leyen in the Commission and the former Portuguese Prime Minister. Antonio Costa in the European Council. According to the High Representative, European Union leaders are considering the Estonian Prime Minister Kaja KalasBut for some countries this policy is considered too “hard” towards Russia and not interested in other core EU scenarios such as the Middle East and Africa.

And Mario Draghi?

Mario Draghi has risen several times to hold a high position, however Many rule out the possibility of him assuming the position of President of the Commission, while some hint at the possibility of a European Council. One thing is certain, EU leaders do not appreciate the “frontrunner” approach, and in fact they boycotted it five years ago by not choosing Manfred Weber as president of the EU Commission despite him being the candidate chosen by the European People’s Party.