European Elections: Right-Wing Surge and Left-Wing Setbacks in 2024
In the latest European elections, the European People's Party (EPP) emerged as the largest faction, with Ursula von der Leyen poised to continue as the President of the European Commission. However, the elections also marked a significant rise of the far-right and a substantial setback for left-wing parties across the continent.
The elections saw the Union (CDU/CSU) in Germany securing the top spot with 30% of the votes, while the Alternative for Germany (AfD) made notable gains, especially in eastern regions. The Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens, key components of the traffic light coalition, suffered significant losses, with the SPD achieving only 13.9% and the Greens falling to 11.9%. Amid these changes, the newly founded left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) also established its presence with 6.2%.
In Spain, Pedro Sánchez's Socialist Party faced a defeat, losing its lead to the Popular Party (PP), which now holds 22 seats. Vox, known for its far-right stance, rose to prominence, securing the third-largest representation among Spanish parties in the European Parliament. The electoral outcome has been interpreted as a clear vote of no confidence in Sánchez's government, especially given the ongoing conflict with Argentine leader Javier Milei.
The European Parliament results indicated a growing right-wing influence across various EU nations. In Italy, Georgia Meloni's party maintained its strong position, contributing to the right-wing shift. France and Germany also saw right-wing parties making substantial gains, leading to concerns about the future political landscape in the EU.
- Despite its poor performance, the SPD is adamant about not calling for new elections, with statements from Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other leaders dismissing the idea. The traffic light coalition, despite its recent performance, plans to continue governing until the scheduled federal elections.
- The voter turnout in Germany reached a new high of 64.8%, indicating a significant civic engagement in these European elections. This was the highest rate since reunification, showing increased public interest and participation in the EU political process.
- In parallel local elections across several German states, similar trends were observed with right-wing parties making gains at multiple levels of governance.
- The rise of right-wing parties in Europe is seen as part of a broader global trend, reflecting dissatisfaction with traditional political structures and issues like migration and economic policy.
