European Parliament Election June 2024

 ### European Parliament Election Next Month: What's at Stake?
#### June 01, 2024, 2:02 AM
#### By Associated Press

BRUSSELS —   By Andrijko Z. - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52171776

Next month, around 400 million European Union citizens will vote to elect members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in one of the largest democratic events worldwide.

Far-right parties are aiming to gain more influence amid rising living costs and farmer discontent, while the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine weigh heavily on voters' minds. A key question is whether European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will continue as the prominent leader of the EU.

Here’s a look at the upcoming election and the major issues at stake:

### When is the vote?

The EU holds elections every five years across its 27-member bloc. This will be the 10th parliamentary election since 1979 and the first post-Brexit. Voting occurs from June 6-9, with results revealed on the evening of June 9 once all polling stations close.

### How does voting work?

The election spans four days, starting Thursday in the Netherlands and concluding Sunday when most countries vote. Voting is by direct universal suffrage in a single ballot. The number of MEPs elected from each country varies by population size, ranging from six for Malta, Luxembourg, and Cyprus to 96 for Germany. In 2019, 751 lawmakers were elected. Post-Brexit, the number of MEPs dropped to 705, with some of the 73 British seats redistributed to other states. After this election, the European Parliament will have 720 members, with 12 countries gaining extra MEPs.

Elections are contested by national political parties, but elected MEPs typically join transnational political groups.

### Who is voting?

In some countries, people under 18 can vote. Belgium lowered the voting age to 16 in 2022. Germany, Malta, and Austria also allow 16-year-olds to vote, while Greece allows voting at 17. In all other member states, the minimum voting age is 18.

The minimum age to stand for election ranges from 18 in most countries to 25 in Italy and Greece.

### What about turnout?

EU elections typically have low turnout, but interest surged in 2019 with 50.7% turnout, an eight-point increase from 2014. A recent Eurobarometer survey indicated that 71% of Europeans are likely to vote in the upcoming election.

### What are the main issues?

Key issues include Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with defense and security at the forefront. Other prominent topics are the economy, jobs, poverty, social exclusion, public health, climate change, and the future of Europe.

### What do EU lawmakers do?

The European Parliament, the only EU institution elected by citizens, serves as a counterbalance to the powerful European Commission. While it cannot propose legislation, its powers are growing. It votes on laws related to climate, banking, agriculture, fisheries, security, and justice. The Parliament also votes on the EU budget, essential for policy implementation, including aid to Ukraine.

MEPs must approve all EU commissioners and can force the entire commission to resign with a two-thirds majority vote.

### What's the current makeup of the parliament?

As of April, the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) holds 176 out of 705 seats, making it the largest group. Ursula von der Leyen belongs to the EPP and aims to stay at the helm of the European Commission.

The center-left Party of European Socialists (S&D) is the second-largest group with 139 seats. The liberal Renew group has 102 seats, followed by an alliance of green and regionalist parties with 72 seats.

### Far right looks to make gains

Far-right groups, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Identity and Democracy (ID), might become the third- and fourth-largest groups. Their potential cooperation and impact on the EU agenda, especially regarding support for Ukraine, remain uncertain. The EPP and S&D are expected to remain stable, while liberals and greens may lose seats after previous gains.

### What happens after the election?

MEPs will elect their president at the first plenary session from July 16-19. After negotiations, likely in September, they will nominate the European Commission president, based on a proposal from member states. In 2019, von der Leyen narrowly became the first female Commission president.

Von der Leyen has a strong chance of reappointment but needs sufficient support. She has also faced criticism for suggesting potential collaboration with hard-right parties depending on the election outcome.