European Parliament election, 2019

European Parliament election, 2019
European People's Party · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	European Parliament election, 2019
Country	European Union
Type	parliamentary
Previous election	2014 European Parliament election
Next election	2024 European Parliament election
Seats for election	751 (later 705)
Election date	23–26 May 2019

Contents

European Parliament election, 2019 was the ninth election to the directly elected European Parliament and took place across the European Union between 23 and 26 May 2019, with voting schedules varying by member state such as United Kingdom before Brexit and Germany. The election determined representation for the legislative term following the Lisbon Treaty adjustments and occurred amid debates involving institutions like the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, and political groups including the European People's Party and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats.

Background

The 2019 contest followed the 2014 results shaped by crises such as the European sovereign debt crisis, the Greek government-debt crisis, and migration debates following the European migrant crisis. Institutional contexts included the role of the Juncker Commission and the fallout from events like the United Kingdom general election, 2017 and the rise of movements exemplified by National Rally (France), Alternative for Germany, and Five Star Movement. Key procedural and political backdrops involved negotiations over the Treaty of Lisbon seat allocations, ongoing discussions in the European Council, and lawsuits before the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Member states used diverse systems sanctioned by EU law including proportional representation variants such as the D'Hondt method, the Sainte-Laguë method, and single transferable vote as in Ireland. Seat totals derived from degressive proportionality established by the European Council and influenced by rulings from the European Court of Justice. Voting eligibility depended on national registers governed by laws like those of France, Poland, and Italy, and transnational issues touched on directives from the European Commission and debates in the European Central Bank regarding economic implications. Procedures for lists, thresholds, and campaign finance referenced precedents from the Treaty on European Union and national constitutions such as the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany.

Campaigns featured pan-European parties and national parties aligned with groups like the European People's Party, Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party, and European Conservatives and Reformists Party. Prominent leaders included figures associated with Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron, Matteo Salvini, Alexis Tsipras, and Marine Le Pen movements, while debates invoked institutions like the European Commission under Jean-Claude Juncker and critics from European United Left–Nordic Green Left. Issues highlighted by campaigns drew on themes present in the Paris Agreement, the Schengen Area, the Common Agricultural Policy, and security concerns after incidents linked to groups such as ISIS and events like the 2015 Paris attacks. Media strategies engaged outlets such as BBC News, Le Monde, Der Spiegel, and digital platforms including Facebook and Twitter amid controversies over misinformation tied to actors referenced in reports by European Parliament committees.

The outcome produced shifts among the European People's Party, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Renew Europe, and the Identity and Democracy Party (EU) with changes in national delegations from countries like France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain. Seat redistribution followed the Treaty of Lisbon parameters and was adjusted in light of the United Kingdom's planned departure leading from 751 to 705 seats affecting delegations from Belgium, Netherlands, and Ireland. New alignments formed in the European Parliament with negotiations involving groups such as the European Green Party and the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, while individual delegations from parties like Fidesz, Law and Justice (Poland), and Syriza influenced coalition arithmetic.

Turnout rose relative to previous elections in member states including Germany, Spain, France, and Poland, reversing trends noted in the 2009 European Parliament election and 2014 European Parliament election. Analysts from institutions such as the European University Institute, think tanks like the Centre for European Reform, and media outlets including Politico Europe attributed increases to mobilization by parties like Vox (Spain), La République En Marche!, and environmental movements associated with Fridays for Future and the Green Party (UK). Statistical assessments compared results to indicators from the Eurobarometer and economic measures overseen by the European Central Bank and national statistics offices such as INSEE and Destatis.

Post-election negotiations shaped the composition of the European Commission and the selection of the President of the European Commission with contenders supported by blocs including the European People's Party and Renew Europe, influencing appointments similar to previous processes after the 2014 election. The new parliamentary term affected policy directions on the Green Deal, migration policy in the context of the Dublin Regulation, and budgetary priorities linked to the Multiannual Financial Framework. Realignments among parties such as Fidesz and responses by national leaders like Viktor Orbán, Boris Johnson, and Pedro Sánchez had repercussions in the European Council and future contests including the 2024 European Parliament election.

Category:European Parliament elections