Scramble for top jobs begins as EU’S grand coalition crumbles
THE centrist coalition that has dominated EU politics for the last 40 years was given a drubbing in the European elections as voters switched to disruptive younger parties in their millions.
A surge in support for Eurosceptic, Green and Liberal parties left the European Parliament fragmented and altered the balance of power among the pan-eu groups of affiliated national parties in Brussels and Strasbourg.
Eurosceptic and Green parties recorded their best results, and the European Liberals group notched up its biggest success since 2009.
Turnout increased for the first time since 1979, the year of the first elections. The turnout of more than 50 per cent across the EU was the highest turnout for 20 years.
The European People’s Party returned 180 MEPS to the 751-seat parliament, the centre-right group’s worst showing since 1984.
The centre-left alliance of Socialists and Democrats returned 145, its worst return since 1979, when there were 434 seats up for grabs. For decades the two blocs have operated a “grand coalition”, carving up the EU’S plum jobs. But without a joint majority of 376, they will need to rely on Liberals or Greens to put forward a candidate to succeed Jean-claude Juncker as president of the European Commission.
The predicted populist surge did not emerge across the whole of the EU, with nationalists performing below expectations in Spain, Germany and the Netherlands. However, Matteo Salvini’s and Marine Le Pen’s parties triumphed in Italy and France and will be part of an alliance of 58 populist MEPS.
While the share of Eurosceptic MEPS has never been higher, the menace to Brussels can be contained by pro-eu parties banding together. Mr Salvini and Emmanuel Macron traded barbs before the vote they characterised as a battle for the soul of Europe.
Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz, of Hungary, and Poland’s Law and Justice party dominated as Budapest and Warsaw continue to butt heads with Brussels.
The Brexit Party triumphed in the British vote and, with 29 MEPS, is now the joint largest national party in the parliament with Angela Merkel’s CDU.
Mr Macron met Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister, last night as horse-trading over the EU’S top jobs began before today’s summit in Brussels, where EU leaders will reassert their sole right to anoint the new commission president.
The results set the scene for months of horse-trading that could ultimately prolong Mr Juncker’s term in office beyond the November 1 deadline.