Roll call of major political blocs ahead of European Parliament elections

Entering the “election year” of 2024, more than 400 million European voters in 27 European Union (EU) member countries will elect 720 lawmakers for the new European Parliament (EP) on June 6-9.

As one of the world's largest democratic elections, second only to India's, the European Parliament (EP) elections are expected to see a significant shift to the right.

Far-right parties are on the rise across Europe, gaining support from young voters. Many parties with anti-immigrant agendas are even gaining support from young voters taking part in European Parliament elections for the first time.

But according to Josse de Voogd, a Dutch researcher, young voters across the continent are actually gravitating towards newer parties, including far-right platforms, while many long-standing, centrist parties still rely on support from older voters.

A banner at the European Parliament building in Brussels, Belgium. Photo: RTE

Dominating the EU legislature for the past five years are three majorities: the center-right European People's Party (EPP), the center-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and the liberal and centrist Renew Europe.

Together, these largest political blocs direct EU policy, including the European Green Deal (EGD) and the EU's response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and hold top leadership positions in EU institutions.

In addition, the hard-line and far-right blocs also showed flexibility. They regrouped, changed their names and restarted for the upcoming tense race.

European People's Party (EPP)

The center-right EPP bloc is the largest bloc in the European Parliament (EP), with a core of German CDU members, with a small number of members from Poland and Romania.

Over the past five years, the bloc has forged alliances with the center-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and the liberal and centrist Renew Europe bloc.

They hold senior positions and have pushed through policies like the European Green Deal (EGD). But the bloc has also become increasingly “sceptical” of green transition efforts in the run-up to the election.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is the leading candidate of the European People's Party (EPP) bloc in the parliamentary elections in June 2024. Photo: National News

Socialists and Democrats (S&D)

The center-left S&D bloc is the second-largest bloc in the European Parliament, with its largest number of members coming from the Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

The S&D became the centre of the Qatargate lobbying scandal in late 2022 after several members of the European Parliament (known as MEPs) and staff from the bloc were arrested.

The S&D said its priorities were to fight unemployment and make society fairer.

Renew Europe

The centrist Renew Europe bloc is the third largest bloc in the ruling coalition in the European Parliament, in which French President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance Party (RE) plays a leading role.

Mr Macron's centrist Renaissance Party is expected to be overtaken by far-right politician Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) in the election.

European Free Alliance/Greens (Greens/EFA)

The Greens/EFA alliance, with the German left-wing Greens Party at its core, was able to claim success in the last legislative session with the European Green Deal against climate change being passed, although the alliance did not have a majority.

But the alliance is expected to face greater difficulties in this year's European Parliament elections, even losing some seats, as voters see more clearly the costs of the green transition.

The next five years are crucial for the EU's green economic transition, Greens/EFA say.

French President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance Party (RE) plays a leading role in the centrist Renew Europe bloc, the third largest bloc in the ruling coalition in the European Parliament for the 2019-2024 term. Photo: Getty Images

The Left Group – GUE/NGL

The Left – GUE/NGL, a left-wing group, includes MEPs from the far-left politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon's La France Insoumise party, Spain's Podemos Unida party and Germany's Die Linke party.

The group prioritizes workers' rights and economic justice, equality for women and minorities. A new left-wing split in Germany by former Die Linke co-chair Sahra Wagenknecht has added to the uncertainty about the bloc's prospects.

European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group

Once the headquarters of Britain's Conservative Party before Brexit, the far-right ECR group is now dominated by members of Poland's eurosceptic Law and Justice Party (PiS).

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Fratelli d'Italia (FdI) party is expected to become the new core of the ECR after this year's European Parliament elections.

Still taking a hard line on migration and believing the EU has gone too far, Ms Meloni has shown a willingness to work more with other like-minded groups within the EU, meaning the ECR could play a bigger role in the new legislature.

Identity and Democracy (ID) Group

Like France's RN, the ID group is the most far-right group in parliament and is expected to be one of the biggest winners in the European Parliament elections as voters are frustrated with the mainstream parties' handling of the cost of living crisis, the energy crisis and migration.

However, the ID expelled the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party after the German far-right party faced a series of scandals .

Minh Duc (According to Reuters, Politico EU)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/diem-danh-cac-khoi-chinh-tri-lon-truoc-them-bau-cu-nghi-vien-chau-au-a666045.html