Iran Press/Europe: A two-party 'grand coalition' of the conservative European People’s Party (EPP) and the Socialists (S&D) no longer has a majority and that may complicate some policymaking. The liberals, with over 100 seats and Greens, with nearly 70, want a big say.
The Pro-Europe parties are committed to strengthening the European Union while their opponents, far-right and nationalist parties, think the opposite, Reuters reported.
France’s Emmanuel Macron who has staked his presidency on persuading Europeans that the EU is the answer to the challenges of an uncertain, globalizing world economy, took a personal hit when his centrist movement was edged into second place by France's far-right party leader Marine Le Pen’s anti-immigration, anti-Brussels National Rally (also known as Rassemblement National).
But Macron added to gains for liberals at the EU level as turnout bounced sharply across the bloc. Along with a surge for the Greens, that meant four groups occupying the pro-EU middle ground lost under 20 seats, securing 505 seats out of 751, according to a projection by the European Parliament.
But it also dents the hopes of Le Pen, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and others who have been seeking to disrupt attempts to forge closer EU integration. Salvini called the elections a mandate for a shake-up in Brussels.
But tensions among nationalists, who also include the Polish and Hungarian ruling parties and the new Brexit Party of British campaigner Nigel Farage, have limited their impact on policy.
EU officials were delighted by an increase in turnout to 51 percent, up from 43 percent in 2014. It was the first reverse in a trend of falling participation since the first direct EU vote in 1979.
Now, it seems that a revival of European citizens’ interest, however muted, and a containment of its critics, is welcome for supporters of the bloc as the Union faces unprecedented slights from the United States under President Donald Trump, the rising tensions between US and Russia and anxiety over the rising trading power of China.
A stronger voice for the liberals and Greens could see the next EU executive seek a tougher line on regulating polluting industries, taxing multinational companies or demanding trading partners help contain climate change — as well as press its own members, notably in the east, not to damage civil rights.
On May 7, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had urged people to vote carefully in Europe-wide polls, saying " voters should ask themselves what the 'European landscape' would look like in the coming years if everyone voted for extremists." 104/211/214
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