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.

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greece-eu-640x360 IMAGO/Pacific Press Agency

Second-Order Elections with a First-Order Impact

Danai Koltsida
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

Yiannos Katsourides
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"
chezch-640x360 IMAGO/CTK Photo

Czech Politics and the European Elections

Martin Šaffek
Europe: ruin or renewalElections and parties
In the Czech Republic, elections to the European Parliament are among the least popular with voters. In 2014, turnout was 18.2 percent, and in 2019, it was 28.7 percent. Surveys for this year estimate it will be somewhere between 20 and 30 percent. This means that the European elections are mainly the arena of ... read more "Czech Politics and the European Elections"
KPOe-e1717767823402-640x360 Flicker / KPÖ

Setting Ourselves Apart

Georg Kurz, Sarah Pansy
Europe: ruin or renewalElections and parties
If you ask a random passer-by on the streets of Salzburg what sets the Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ) apart, they will probably have quite a bit to say — regardless of whether they vote for the KPÖ or not.
read more "Setting Ourselves Apart"
polen-640x360 IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

The EU Elections in Poland

Achim Kessler
Europe: ruin or renewalElections and parties
The European Parliament elections on 9 June will be the third nationwide elections to take place in Poland in eight months. They are expected to set the course for the 2025 presidential elections and will serve as an important test of whether the new coalition of the liberal Koalicja Obywatelska (Civic Coalition), the conservative Trzecia Droga (Third Way), ... read more "The EU Elections in Poland"
slov1-640x360 IMAGO/Nik Erik Neubauer

Slovenia’s Political Pendulum Swings Back

Matej Klarič
Europe: ruin or renewalElections and parties
Since joining the European Union in 2004, Slovenia has consistently exhibited one of the lowest voter turnouts in European elections. Indeed, statistics reveal that in 2019, only the Czech Republic (28.72 percent) and Slovakia (24.74 percent) recorded lower turnouts than Slovenia’s 28.89 percent. Remarkably, ... read more "Slovenia’s Political Pendulum Swings Back"
finland-e1716548954563-640x360 IMAGO/Lehtikuva

Opposing Finland’s Thatcherist Turn

Li Andersson, Duroyan Fertl
Northern ExposureEurope: ruin or renewalElections and parties
As the European Parliament elections this June draw nearer, the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation is conducting a series of interviews with left-wing parties and candidates from across the EU on the election campaign, their political programmes, and the challenges facing left-wing forces domestically and at a European level. The foundation’s Duroyan Fertl spoke to... read more "Opposing Finland’s Thatcherist Turn"
imago441881728-1-640x360 IMAGO/Alberto Gardin

Low Expectations for Spain’s Divided Left

María del Vigo
Europe: ruin or renewalElections and parties
In the Spanish State, all indicators seem to point in the same direction: we are coming to the end of a cycle, in which what has been called the “Space for Change” is in retreat and even disappearing in many regions. Significant internal disagreements within the Left, right-wing and far-right parties committed to propagating fake news and stoking ... read more "Low Expectations for Spain’s Divided Left"
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