European Parliament Elections: The Rise of the Right and Its Impact on Policies in the Green Continent

The European Parliament elections of 2024, held from June 6 to 9, have become a significant turning point in the political history of the European Union. The preliminary results of these elections indicate a shift to the right in the political landscape of Europe, which could have profound effects on the future policies of the continent. Voter turnout and fundamental changesThe turnout in this election reached 51.59%, an increase compared to the previous election. This increase reflects the growing importance and attention of voters to European issues and emphasizes the role of the European Parliament in shaping the major policies of this union. Analysts believe that the increased participation is a result of growing concerns over social, economic, and security issues facing the European Union. Victory of right-wing and populist partiesRight-wing and populist parties performed successfully in this election. The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and the Identity and Democracy (ID) party together secured 25% of the seats, surpassing the European People's Party (EPP) and the Socialists (S&D) for the first time. Among these, the Brothers of Italy (FDI) achieved the most significant increase with 27 seats. This increase occurred despite a significant decline for the League party in Italy, which was offset by the increase in seats for right-wing parties in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland. Significant changes in France and GermanyIn France, the far-right National Rally party, led by Marine Le Pen, managed to secure about 32% of the votes. This level of support is approximately 10% higher than in the 2019 elections and 17% more than the votes for Emmanuel Macron's party. Following this heavy defeat of the ruling party in France in the European Parliament elections, President Emmanuel Macron issued a decree to dissolve the French Parliament, necessitating early parliamentary elections in France. In Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AFD) party became the second most powerful party in the country, securing 16.5% of the votes. These results indicate major changes in the political attitudes of the people of France and Germany and a growing support for far-right parties.Political implicationsWith these changes, the balance of power in the European Parliament has shifted to the right. Central and leftist coalitions have lost many seats and now hold only 54% of the seats, which is insufficient for an absolute majority. These changes will not only impact the internal policies of the European Union but also its positions on global issues. The future of the Ukraine issueThe significant advance of right-wing and populist parties could have important effects on the European Union's approach to the Ukraine crisis. With the increased influence of right-wing parties, some of which have more lenient positions towards Russia, we may witness changes in the political and economic support of the European Union for Ukraine. These changes could lead to reduced pressures on Russia and a moderation of sanction policies, ultimately affecting Ukraine's ability to resist Russian aggression. The future of relations with the Islamic RepublicThe strengthening of right-wing and populist parties could have significant impacts on the European Union's relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. These parties typically adopt stricter policies towards Iran and may increase pressures for more sanctions and tighter restrictions on Iran's nuclear programs and regional activities. Additionally, diplomatic and economic relations between the European Union and Iran may be affected, potentially leading to a decrease in economic and diplomatic cooperation between the two sides. The new parliamentary composition and future decision-makingThe new parliament, consisting of 720 representatives, will begin its activities on July 16. In the first session, the President of the Parliament, 14 Vice Presidents, and five financial officers will be elected. Committees and subcommittees of the parliament will also be formed, and managerial positions will be distributed among the main groups. These results indicate a significant transformation in the political landscape of Europe that could have profound effects on the future policies of the European Union. The future of European Union policiesWith the increasing influence of far-right parties, the future of European policies in various areas will face significant changes. Sensitive issues such as dealing with Russia, industrial and economic competition with powers like China and the United States, as well as immigration and security policies will be among those affected by these changes. Greater fragmentation and disintegration in the European Parliament may complicate and slow down the decision-making process on these issues. Ultimately, the results of the 2024 European Parliament elections indicate a major transformation in the political landscape of this continent that could have widespread implications for the future of the European Union.