OAN’s James Meyers
1:43 PM – Monday, June 10, 2024
After four days of voting, with over 400 million people across 27 countries, European voters have pulled the bloc’s 720-seat parliament “farther to the right than it’s ever been,” according to international political analysts.
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Right-wing parties made significant gains in Europe’s top three economies in Germany, France and Italy. Gains were made by politicians who campaigned against mass immigration, higher taxes, those wanting to halt support for Ukraine, and those against certain environmental policies.
In France, the National rally party won the most votes to represent the republic in the European Parliament, which was over 31% of all French votes cast. The 31% is more than double the almost 14% of votes for centrist candidates supported by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron dissolved France’s Parliament almost immediately and made calls for shock, snap elections. The first round of voting is set for June 30th, with the second round scheduled for July 7th.
“I give back to you the choice for the future of our Parliament,” Macron said in a national broadcast. “The rise of nationalists, of demagogues, is a danger for our nation, but also for our Europe, for France’s place in Europe and in the world.”
Italy’s party of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the Brothers of Italy, also won the most votes. The party received 29% of the votes, which is more than quadruple its vote share compared to five years ago. Italy’s Democrat Party came in second with 24% of the vote.
“Italians are giving us a loud and clear message to go ahead with our work,” said Meloni on an Italian radio station.
“The center is holding,” she said. “But it is also true that the extremes on the left and on the right have gained support, and this is why the result comes with great responsibility for the parties in the center.”
In Germany, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party, the Social Democrats, garnered less than 14% of the votes, making it the worst polling result in a national referendum in over 100 years. This now raises the question of whether Scholz’ party can survive.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyden’s center-right European People’s Party also gained seats to keep its hold as the biggest block in the European Parliament.
“The center is holding but it is also true that the extremes on the left and on the right have gained support,” von der Leyen said in Brussels, home of the European Union.
“We may differ on individual points,” she said, calling out centrist members of parliament, “but we all have an interest in stability and we all want a strong and effective Europe.”
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