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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iceland-640x360 IMAGO/Seeliger

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

Elections 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"
chezch-640x360 IMAGO/CTK Photo

Czech Politics and the European Elections

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

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

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

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"
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