The future European elections will be held between 6 and 9 June 2024. These elections take place every five years and over 400 million citizens of the 27 EU states will vote their representatives in the European Parliament. The general turnout from the last elections of 2019 was 50.66%, while in 2014 the turnout was 42.61 %, which means an increase of 8 % – that can be perceived as a positive element regarding the interest of citizens in the future of Europe.
The Good and the Bad
The Conference on the Future of Europe represented a huge space for debate with citizens in order to address Europe`s challenges and priorities. Furthermore, such a democratic exercise sheds light on the democratic legitimacy of the European construction and its institutions. Each Member State of the European Union, European institutions, regional or local authorities, civil society organized various events across the EU gathering around 650000 participants. This process might bring an increase in the general interest regarding the EU, including the European elections.
On the other side, the arrest of Eva Kaili, Member of the European Parliament, earlier this year, has shaken trust in the European Parliament. This corruption scandal included the involvement of countries such Qatar and Morocco trying to influence – through financial means – different European lawmakers. The Kaili case might damage future voter turnout, but surely will cast a negative light on the European Parliament.
2024
2024 approaches, the European elections will take place and it will shape the European political landscape for the next years. What we should take into account is the fact that new generations will vote in these elections which should imply a new type of approach from different political parties across Europe. The rise of the Artificial Intelligence, the need to regulate its usage and to establish a proper oversight will gradually take a relevant space in electoral campaigns, alongside climate issues and social justice.
The next elections will probably allow the appearance of new political factions in the European Parliament, supported by voters who express their disenchantment with classical political parties. Probably we shall see factions that will support a more conservative approach and carry a nationalistic message such as the Romanian AUR party (Alliance for the Unity of Romanians). It is clear that the Eurosceptic parties will try to identify new ways of increasing their influence, while the pro-Europeans will need new ways of diminishing the damage caused by the Eurosceptics.
We are looking for a very challenging 2024 and the main political parties should prepare for a more difficult electoral campaign marked by policy pressures, geopolitical uncertainty, the rise of new tech, but also changing demographics with new generations expressing their votes.
