Far-right parties made major gains in the EU elections

Far-right parties performed strongly in last week’s European Union (EU) elections.

Polls were held over four days to determine the European parliament’s 720 members.

A right-wing surge saw parties to the centre and left of European politics lose seats in the parliamentary body.

This included wins for France’s far-right Opposition, led by Marine Le Pen — prompting current President Emmanuel Macron to.

EU elections

Parliamentary elections are held every five years. This year, around 51% of 370 million eligible voters turned up to cast their ballots.

Thebased on the size of their population, ranging from Malta’s six to Germany’s 96.

Voters choose a party in their respective country. Based on how many votes they get, the parties are then grouped into “blocs”, ranging from the left-wing “Socialists and Democrats” (S&D) to the centre-right “European People’s Party” (EPP).

Key issues

Polling company Focaldata surveyed 6,000 voters before the election.

Voters’ top issues were the cost of living (20%), immigration (14%), and climate change (10%).

Many Europeans have been affected by Russia’s war in Ukraine (not EU members), which has caused gas shortages and grocery price spikes.

Results

The centre-right EPP has increased its share of the vote.

It won 186 out of 720 seats, making it the largest bloc in the European Parliament.

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The centre-left S&D lost four seats, but remained in second place at 135.

Renew Europe, a centrist pro-Europe group, lost 23 seats, while the progressive Green alliance lost 18 seats.

Two major right-wing political blocs – the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) and the far-right Identity and Democracy Group (ID) – both increased their vote share.

Voters in France, Germany, and Italy all increased their support for far-right parties in their respective elections.

In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right ‘Brothers of Italy’ party increased its vote share from around 6% to 29%.

Meanwhile, the AfD in Germany – a far-right, anti-immigration party – lifted its support from 11% to 16%.

Reaction

Susi Dennison, an analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations (an international think tank), said it was a “good night for the far right”.

She said more progressive parties lost support, signalling a broader shift to the right.

Renew Europe President Valérie Hayer, whose party lost a significant amount of support, said: “The rise of the far-right in some countries is an alarm that must be taken seriously if we want to preserve Europe”.

France

In France, the far-right group Rassemblement National increased its vote to more than 31%, up from 23% in 2019. The group is led by Marine Le Pen, President Emmanuel Macron’s main opponent over the last two presidential elections.

Following the result, Macron called a snap election for the parliamentary assembly, which will be held on 30 June and 7 July.

In a televised address, Macron told voters he “heard [their] message, and will not let it go without a response”.