Elections and parties

Brexit marks one of the biggest crises to face the European Union. The outcome of the upcoming elections will be crucial to Europe’s future. On the one hand, this section will analyse the electoral situation in individual countries, including the formation of a government in Sweden and the parliamentary elections in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece and Poland and the local council elections in Germany, Spain and Turkey. On the other hand, the political developments surrounding the European Parliament elections will be a major focus. Social issues in particular will be discussed with respect to the European left from both country-specific and Europe-wide perspectives, and strategies will be developed that the left can use to counter nationalist and right-wing populist movements.

more on this topic

greenland-elections-640x360 IMAGO/Ritzau Scanpix

Greenland: Parliamentary elections deal blow to left wing government

Northern ExposureEurope: ruin or renewalElections and parties
Tuesday’s election to the Inatsisartut – the parliament of Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat) – resulted in resounding defeat for the country’s left wing government parties and a landslide victory for liberal party Demokraatit. At the time of writing, many questions remain unanswered about... read more "Greenland: Parliamentary elections deal blow to left wing government"
imago792233206-640x360 IMAGO/Ritzau Scanpix

Greenland: “It’s the white man—send him home!”

Northern ExposureEurope: ruin or renewalElections and parties
Caught between a Danish colonial past and threats from Donald Trump’s US, Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat) will hold elections to its parliament, the Inartsiartut, today, on March 11. Greenland’s political status within the Kingdom of Denmark is difficult to explain, especially to those who are not from ... read more "Greenland: “It’s the white man—send him home!”"
linke-statement-640x360 MARTIN HEINLEIN / DIE LINKE via flickr

How Die Linke Turned the Tide

Elections and parties
Version française ci-dessous Co-chairs Ines Schwerdtner and Jan van Aken on the party’s remarkable comeback When we announced our candidacy for the chair of Die Linke last summer, the situation seemed hopeless: the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) had split from the party and we were limping into the state elections in... read more "How Die Linke Turned the Tide"
wahlen-640x360 imago images/Achille Abboud

The 2025 German Election: First Impressions and Implications

Elections and parties
Version française ci-dessous   The 2025 German federal election, held some eight months ahead of schedule following the collapse of the governing coalition late last year, largely proceeded as expected, with losses for the coalition partners, gains for the centre-right, and big gains ... read more "The 2025 German Election: First Impressions and Implications"
iceland-640x360 IMAGO/Seeliger

Scratching the Seven-Year Itch: Iceland votes to change government

Northern ExposureElections and parties
Note: This article uses Icelandic naming conventions. Most persons referenced do not have family names and are therefore primarily referred to by their given name.   On Saturday 30 November, Icelanders went to the polls to elect a new Althing (parliament). The second election to be ... read more "Scratching the Seven-Year Itch: Iceland votes to change government"
denmark-article-640x360 John Nielsen

Why Europe should avoid modelling its migration policy on Denmark

Northern ExposureElections and parties
Despite being one of the first countries to sign the UN Refugee Convention, Denmark has also been a frequent first-mover on harsh immigration policies in Europe. An increasing number of political parties – not all of them right-wing or nationalist – across Europe point to the “Danish ... read more "Why Europe should avoid modelling its migration policy on Denmark"
greece-eu-640x360 IMAGO/Pacific Press Agency

Second-Order Elections with a First-Order Impact

Europe: ruin or renewalElections and parties
Although European elections are traditionally considered as being second-order in nature, it is quite clear that at least those of 2024 have had a clear first-order impact in several European countries, with the snap national elections in France and the subsequent formation of the New Popular Front by the ... read more "Second-Order Elections with a First-Order Impact"
cyprus3-640x360

Twists and Turns amidst Continuity

Europe: ruin or renewalElections and parties
The political systems in Cyprus — both on a party level and as a whole — have undergone continuous changes over recent years. The most significant shifts include the declining electoral and political influence of traditional parties over the past 10–15 years and the rise in voter abstention. These changes are better... read more "Twists and Turns amidst Continuity"
more posts