New European Parliament: Is Venus darkening?
by Ayfer Selamoğlu
The countdown has begun for the new European Parliament elections.
There are elections in 27 European countries between June 6-9.
More than 400 million voters will elect 705 MPs who will enter the European Parliament.
Due to population increase, 720 MPs will be elected instead of 705 for the first time.
Voters under 18 will also vote for the first time, as the voting age has been lowered in some countries.
With the parliamentary elections, the presidents of the EU Commission and the EU Council will also change.
The resulting colour harmony will determine the values of Europe for five years.
There are seven groups in the European Parliament
These are the European People’s Party (EPP), Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Renew Europe,
Greens/European Free Alliance, European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), Identity and Democracy (ID), Left.
In other words, the Parliament consists of 7 groups and independent representatives.
The largest political formation in the Parliament, the EPP, is known as the centre-right-leaning Christian Democrats, and Von Der Leyen’s party has 177 MPs.
The second largest group is the centre-left-leaning S&D, which includes Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and has 139 seats in Parliament.
The liberal Renew Europe, founded with the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron, has 102 seats.
The Greens/European Free Alliance is represented in the EP with 72 members.
ECR, formed by the conservative parties in the EP and chaired by the Italian Prime Minister, far-right leader Giorgia Meloni, has 68 seats.
ID, a far-right party formed by 9 parties from member countries, has 59 members of Parliament.
The smallest group in the AP is the Left group, with 37 deputies.
Is a far-right wave coming?
Some commentators, taking into account the dominant strategies in the world, the chaotic environment, the phenomenon of global migration and the current government and leader profiles,
“Europe is about to be submerged by a far-right wave,” they say.
Will these elections result in a European Parliament dominated by the radical right?
Far-right parties are grouped into two groups.
One of these is Lega, led by Matteo Salvini from Italy, and
Identity and democracy group, including Le Pen.
The other is the group of conservative and reformist Europeans, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Common enemy: “Anti-immigration”
We can summarise the common goals of the identity and democracy group as “Anti-immigration and preventing the Islamization of Europe”.
Conservative and reformist Europeans do not think differently about these issues.
The European People’s Party does not think differently about immigrants.
For this reason, the manifesto prepared for the AP 2024 elections states that people seeking asylum will be deported to third countries.
Remember that it includes immigration reform, which includes implementing a quota system for those receiving protection in EU countries.
According to Frontex’s data, the highest number of irregular immigrants arriving in EU countries was in 2023.
In 2023, approximately 380 thousand people entered the EU illegally.
In summary, we are faced with a rising right wing in the world and Europe and their shared enemy or weapon, the phenomenon of “anti-immigrant sentiment”.
In this context, it would not be surprising if the European People’s Party (EPP) maintained its position in the Parliament.
It would not be surprising that two far-right groups are among the most vital groups in the Parliament.
Considering the silent majority opposing the general state of the world, it is not surprising that the centre-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D) maintain their position in Parliament.
It would not be surprising if the Greens lost their influence against the right wing, which is rising worldwide and in Europe.
Attacking or destroying the EU with the EU’s values!
What does French Le Pen, part of the identity and democracy group, say about European Union problems?
“The European Union is spreading Islamism and Wokeism.”
With the frequently used term Wokeism, the EU is accused of being sensitive to social problems, human rights and migration.
The values that constitute the identity and existence of the EU are intended to be destroyed with this term.
In this context, let us remember the tone used by Argentina’s right-wing President Milei towards Spain’s left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
The far-right summit was being held in Madrid, the capital of Spain, where the centre-left is in power.
Milei disregarded diplomatic rules and courtesy and did not say “hello” to either the King of Spain or the Prime Minister of Spain.
At the meeting, he described socialism as “the cancer of humanity”.
He accused the Prime Minister’s wife of corruption.
In other words, he caused an international crisis by openly and rudely attacking the head of government!
The June 2024 elections will also be the litmus test for historian Peter Turchin’s prediction in Nature magazine ten years ago.
Turchin said: “Political instability will increase in the USA and the EU in the 2020s.”
Let Turchin be wrong…
Let’s create a new world order in which EU values, peace, sensitivity, tolerance, human rights and law, respect for differences, rules of diplomacy, and international courtesy prevail.
Share: