European Parliament election, 2014

[Loppan Torkel]

Elections to the European Parliament will be held in all member states of the European Union (EU) between 22 and 25 May 2014, as decided unanimously by a decision of the Council of the European Union. It will be the eighth Europe-wide election to the European Parliament since the first direct elections in 1979.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliament_election,_2014
European People's Party

Spoiler :

The EPP is Europe’s centre-right political family. It strives for a Europe of values close to the people and based on democracy, transparency and responsibility, as well as prosperity through the promotion of a social market economy.

As the political heirs of the EU’s founding fathers, the EPP includes 74 parties from 39 countries. It has the largest Group in the European Parliament and most heads of state and government of any political family in the European Council, as well as members in the Commission.

Party of European Socialists

Spoiler :

The Party of European Socialists (PES) brings together 53 Socialist, Social Democratic and Labour Parties of the European Union and neighboring countries. The PES European Parliament election campaign will put people at its core and reflect the PES commitment to the common values of democracy, equality, solidarity and social justice. In the run-up to the European elections, the PES will spearhead a ‘common candidate’ campaign to give people a say in who the next European Commission President should be. The PES will provide information and contacts to its member parties and will draft a simple ten point manifesto to ‘frame’ the election.

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party?)

Spoiler :

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party is the party for liberal democrat values in Europe. With more than 55 liberal member parties across the continent, it is translating the principle of freedom into politics, economics and all other areas of society.

Founded in 1976 before the first European elections, it was established as the first true transnational political party in 1993. The ALDE Party provides an increasingly vital link between citizens and the EU institutions, and continues to grow in size and significance.

European Green Party

Spoiler :

The European Green Party is a political force that's clearly identifiable through our commitment to environmental responsibility, individual freedom, inclusive democracy, diversity, gender equality, global sustainable development and non-violence. Our members are made up of Green parties from European countries (although not necessarily from European Union member states). Our commitment to a more participatory Europe means that we are the first European Party to hold an open primary, the Green Primary, to select our leading candidates for a European election.

European United Left–Nordic Green Left
Party of the European Left

Spoiler :

The Party of the European Left unites democratic parties of the alternative and progressive Left on the European continent that strive for the consistent transformation of today's social relationships into a peaceful and socially just society on the basis of the diversity of our situations, our histories and our common values.

Founded on the 9th May 2004 in Rome, the Party of the European Left (EL) consists of 26 member and 7 observer parties from all over Europe. We work alongside the political foundation Transform! Europe, social movements and trade-unions.

European Democratic Party

Spoiler :

The European Democratic Party gathers parties and representatives who wish for a more democratic, integrated European Union, closer to its citizens.

Europe is facing an addition of crisis: economic, social, political… The peoples, racked with doubt and distrust, are turning away from the very idea of Europe. For those who share the European ideal, this is a tremendous challenge that needs a decisive strategy.

This is why the European Democratic Party intends to rebuild the European project and to offer to the peoples new, audacious but credible solutions, with new perspective. This is the challenge we chose to overcome together.

Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists

Spoiler :

The Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists (AECR) brings together parties from across Europe that believe in personal liberty, parliamentary democracy, national sovereignty, strong families, low taxes, sound money, free trade and the rule of law. We comprise Centre-Right parties from EU and non-EU countries, all of whom have equal status under our rules. We work alongside the ECR Group in the European Parliament, the New Direction think-tank, the European Young Conservatives and allied groups on Europe's other international assemblies. We work with allied parties on other continents and are full members of the International Democrats Union.

Europe of Freedom and Democracy
MELD

Spoiler :

MELD is committed to the principles of Democracy, Freedom and cooperation among sovereign States in an effort to impede the complete bureaucratisation of Europe.
Our members are opposed to further European integration through treaties and policies that exacerbate the present democratic deficit and the centralist political structure of the EU.

We believe in :
• Freedom and cooperation among people of different States
• More democracy and respect of the People’s will
• Respecting Europe’s history, traditions and cultural values
• Respecting national differences and freedom of votes.

European Free Alliance

Spoiler :

The European Free Alliance (EFA) works to make the idea of a “Europe of the Peoples” a reality. It brings together 40 progressive nationalist, regionalist and autonomist parties from across the EU who represent stateless nations, regions, and traditional national minorities. EFA focuses its activity on the promotion of the right to self-determination, human, civil and political rights, democracy, internal enlargement, multi-level governance, cultural and linguistic diversity; as well as on nationalism, regionalism, autonomy and independence. The right to self-determination is a cornerstone of EFA’s political programme and ideology.

European Alliance for Freedom (no group or colour?!)

Spoiler :

The European Alliance for Freedom (EAF) is a pan-European alliance of Members of the European Parliament, together with national and regional parliamentarians and parties, united under a political platform calling for national freedom and democracy in opposition to centralised, supranational control. Concerned with issues of freedom and democracy in the EU, the EAF does not operate within the Left-Right political paradigm and its members come from across a wide political spectrum.

Alliance of European National Movements

Spoiler :

The European level political party „Alliance of European National Movements" was formed in Budapest, Hungary on the 24-th of October 2009, by a number of nationalist parties and national movements from various countries in Europe. Since then, AEMN dedicates its political activities to protect and nurture the diversity of autochthonous cultures, traditions and languages in a Europe of free, independent and equal nations, in the framework of a confederation of sovereign nation states.

European Christian Political Movement

Spoiler :

The European Christian Political Movement (ECPM) is a political association of Christian-democratic parties and organisations which are active on all different political levels in Europe. ECPM is represented on the national or European level in 10 EU member states.

Spearheads elections

ECPM has a broad scope on issues and themes. During the coming European elections campaign ECPM will focus on the following five spearheads:
1. Marriage and human dignity
2. Human trafficking and sex trade
3. Sustainable entrepreneurship and economy
4. Priority for family
5. Freedom of faith, conscience and expression.

EU Democrats(no group or colour?!)

Spoiler :

The EUD is a pan-European alliance of EU-critics and opponents of EU membership. The EUD opposes further centralization of power to Brussels and wants powers transferred back to national and regional parliaments and decisions taken as close as possible to the citizens.

The EUD does not take a position on left-right policy issues – this is a matter for democratically elected national parliaments. The EUD doesn’t provide a platform for racist or xenophobe views. Increased transparency, accountability, subsidiarity and effective democratic control within the EU is our goal.

Not colour coded from above parties:

Spoiler :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_groups_of_the_European_Parliament
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/007f2537e0/Politiska-grupper.html
http://www.elections2014.eu/en/european-political-parties

Elections for European Parliament is coming up in a couple of months. We all vote through our national parties, but I'm guessing the importance of European parties and group constellations will increase. Until it all collapses at least. Anyway, looking at it feels as foreign as the political groups in Alpha Centauri.
I've tried to get some hold of it through this, but if there are faults in it, correct it please.

Plenty to discuss, not sure where to start. I haven't decided what to vote for yet or what the purpose of my vote should be. Increase the power of the party I'm voting for, in the upcoming national election, or if I'm solely should vote for my "ambition" in and for EU?

 

[Kyriakos]

Worth to note that the elections are not under the banner of the eu parliament parties, but under local parties, who then either are part of euro parliament ones, or move on to become part or form other ones.

I think that it seems very highly likely that the May euro election will signify a mass increase in anti-euro parties in the eu parliament. Some nationalist within a form of eu, others downright against any eu existing, and some in the middle of things.

At least in this country it is projected that the "socialist" ( ) party will get exactly 0 seats in the new euro parliament. It is a dead party polling at 4% at best (it won the 2009 election with over 40%, but now is thankfully to hell cause it helped ruin the country).
The popular/democratic party (another euphemism) is projected to have at most 2 seats, but probably will only get 1.

The leftist party will likely get 5 or more.

The nationalist party (GD) supposedly will get at least 4 seats, and maybe more.

The rest won't get anything, or 1 seat each.

 

[Camikaze]

Plenty to discuss, not sure where to start. I have decided what to vote for yet or what the purpose of my vote should be. Increase the power of the party I'm voting for, in the upcoming national election, or if I'm solely should vote for my "ambition" in and for EU?

Well EP elections are traditionally 'second-order' elections, in that people vote against their national parties rather than for their European parties, so you certainly wouldn't be alone if you treated it that way too.

 

[Tahuti]

I will vote D66 (a Dutch member of the European Liberal Party) to strengthen Europe. I believe that the Greek debt crisis and the crisis in Ukraine that a strong EU will be needed in the foreseeable future.

That said, I am not necessarily pessimistic in the prospect of major Eurosceptic victory: It will force the Pro-European parties to unify over their ideological differences, since the current European political party system is outdated given the importance of the Parliament. An entrenched Eurosceptic party will make them tone done their Euroscepticism and gradually turn into a decentralist but not Anti-EU party even I might support one day, should I believe the EU ever become too powerful in the far future.

 

[Quackers]

I expect UKIP will get a big fat victory. Possibly 1st or 2nd in the overall vote count.

Euroscepticism is spreading across Europe now. It feels good.

 

[Tahuti]

Well EP elections are traditionally 'second-order' elections, in that people vote against their national parties rather than for their European parties, so you certainly wouldn't be alone if you treated it that way too.

Do note that the European elections are primarily attended by people strongly interested in the EU, i.e. die-hard Integrationists and Eurosceptics. Parties that are very Pro-EU or very Anti-EU tend to do relatively better (compared to their size in national parliaments) than parties with more moderate viewpoints, who are more popular at national level.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

Having checked up a bit more, it looks like I'll be able to, indirectly, vote for:
EPP - Centre-Right
PES - Socialists
ALDE - Liberals
Greens
and perhaps EFD - EU sceptics.

edit: GUE/NGL - green commies is also an alternative, it seems.

 

[Jan H]

In Belgium, the European elections will be on the same day as federal ànd regional parliamentary elections (the mother of all elections ;-) ). So the European elections will probably get snowed under, and most people will probably just vote for the same party as for the federal and regional parliament...

 

[The_J]

Oh god, now I really have to care what these Dutch parties stand for, and with which block they're associated with.
Hope they'll have a pirate party here, would make my election life a lot easier ^^.

 

[Tahuti]

Oh god, now I really have to care what these Dutch parties stand for, and with which block they're associated with.
Hope they'll have a pirate party here, would make my election life a lot easier ^^.

From most anti-EU to most Pro-EU, all the Dutch parties plus ideology

-PVV (nationalist, very anti-EU)
-SGP/CU (political protestant, normally separate parties but compete in the EU parliamentary elections as one)
-SP (revolutionary socialist)
-VVD (conservative, law & order oriented)
-Pirate Party (self explanatory)
-PvdA (nominally 'social democrat', actually conservative)
-CDA (conservative, religion oriented)
-GroenLinks (green, left-liberal)
-D66 (left-libertarian, very Pro-EU)

 

[Loppan Torkel]

From most anti-EU to most Pro-EU, all the Dutch parties plus ideology

-PVV (nationalist, very anti-EU)
-SGP/CU (political protestant, normally separate parties but compete in the EU parliamentary elections as one)
-SP (revolutionary socialist)
-VVD (conservative, law & order oriented)
-Pirate Party (self explanatory)
-PvdA (nominally 'social democrat', actually conservative)
-CDA (conservative, religion oriented)
-GroenLinks (green, left-liberal)
-D66 (left-libertarian, very Pro-EU)

Which EU groups do they support and belong to?

 

[Algeroth]

Due to lack of decent liberal party here in Czechia, I will have to stick to votig Pirate Party once again.

 

[dexters]

Sorry to crash this thread. The OP does a good job of explaining the various parties, but how does EU parliamentary elections work exactly?

 

[Loppan Torkel]

Sorry to crash this thread. The OP does a good job of explaining the various parties, but how does EU parliamentary elections work exactly?

We vote for any of our local parties just like always, but this time for them to represent us in EU. If a local party get enough votes, it gets to send a representative to the EU Parliament. I think Sweden has 20 of these. They join whichever group they feel closest to (bolded in the OP) ....I think.

 

[Tahuti]

Which EU groups do they support and belong to?

That's not really relevant, since the EU parties themselves are hardly coherent entities, based on vague ideological roles. For instance, both the Euroneutral VVD and Pro-EU D66 are part of ALDE.

To some extent, there already is a division between Pro-European and anti-European in European politics. A Eurosceptic victory will perhaps formalise the two distinctions and destroy the old system which is moribund anyway.

Sorry to crash this thread. The OP does a good job of explaining the various parties, but how does EU parliamentary elections work exactly?

You get to vote on candidates fielded by lists named after the national parties they are part of. If their party gets enough votes, or they get enough preferance votes, they will be members of EP. It is not that different from US Congressional elections, except that the EU doesn't have a de-jure two-party system, even though it de-facto has.

 

[dexters]

You get to vote on candidates fielded by lists named after the national parties they are part of. If their party gets enough votes, or they get enough preferance votes, they will be members of EP. It is not that different from US Congressional elections, except that the EU doesn't have a de-jure two-party system, even though it de-facto has.

We vote for any of our local parties just like always, but this time for them to represent us in EU. If a local party get enough votes, it gets to send a representative to the EU Parliament. I think Sweden has 20 of these. They join whichever group they feel closest to (bolded in the OP) ....I think.

Ah thanks. So the 'ridings' or 'districts' are kept as is from local national elections?

And when you say there's a de-facto 2 party system, do you mean, the various parties essentially align into 2 factions in the parliament itself?

Lastly, how does EU parliamentary elections compare to national elections and with the reported (i'm not sure if its true or not) increase in Europhobia has turnout been going down as one might expect?

 

[Loppan Torkel]

That's not really relevant, since the EU parties themselves are hardly coherent entities, based on vague ideological roles. For instance, both the Euroneutral VVD and Pro-EU are part of ALDE.

To some extent, there already is a division between Pro-European and anti-European in European politics. A Eurosceptic victory will perhaps formalise the two distinctions and destroy the old system which is moribund anyway.

I admit that it's hard to know how the votes turn out in the end, but are you saying that it doesn't matter if your vote (hypothetical) for VVD would end up in ALDE, EPP or ECR?

 

[Tahuti]

And when you say there's a de-facto 2 party system, do you mean, the various parties essentially align into 2 factions in the parliament itself?

Lastly, how does EU parliamentary elections compare to national elections and with the reported (i'm not sure if its true or not) increase in Europhobia has turnout been going down as one might expect?

Traditionally, the EU Parliament is renowned for its consensus culture, for the 3 major parties (ALDE, EPP and the Socialists) are Pro-European or have major Pro-European factions. The revolutionary socialist and nationalist factions are de-facto united in their opposition against the EU and that is significantly stronger than their ideological position they otherwise occupy and might turn them against each other, but these are marginalised as those aren't exactly popular parties to begin with. So basically, you have one giant de-facto Pro-European party (de-jure the Socialists, Liberals and Christian Democrats and internal factions within other parties) and a small Anti-European party (revolutionary leftists, ultranationalists and internal factions within other parties including the socialists, liberals and Christian Democrats).

However, due to the recent Greek debt crisis, many have begun to believe that the EU is part of the problem and thus are willing to give protest votes to such parties, who might gobble up 1/3 of the EP. That's still way too little to change anything, but possibly strong enough to galvanise Pro-EU parties into a coherent block and prompt a likewise response from Anti-EU parties who might tone down their opposition to the EU and will simply serve as a 'break' for the Pro-EU faction. It isn't really Europhobia that is causing low-turnouts, but indifference, as Anti-EU people tend to give most importance to EU elections along with Pro-Eu crowd.

Needless, as a supporter of the EU, I would welcome a Eurosceptic victory, for it would mark the beginning of a mature European political culture.

I admit that it's hard to know how the votes turn out in the end, but are you saying that it doesn't matter if your vote (hypothetical) for VVD would end up in ALDE, EPP or ECR?

That is exactly what I'm saying. The European political parties are a farce. The EU needs to get over that if it wishes to have a mature political system.

 

[Algeroth]

Ah thanks. So the 'ridings' or 'districts' are kept as is from local national elections?

Nope. Each member state is in charge of organizing their own EP election on their own, including setting a treshold, but the voting system have to be proportional and the subdivision have to not deform the results in significant way, so the subdivisions in member states that uses majority voting systems - Britain and France i.e. - have to redrawn their district and countries that uses subdivisions in thier national elections - Czechia, i.e. - tend to use only one national district.

Traditionally, the EU Parliament is renowned for its consensus culture, for the 3 major parties (ALDE, EPP and the Socialists) are Pro-European or have major Pro-European factions. The revolutionary socialist and nationalist factions are de-facto united in their opposition against the EU and that is significantly stronger than their ideological position they otherwise occupy and might turn them against each other, but these are marginalised as those aren't exactly popular parties to begin with. So basically, you have one giant de-facto Pro-European party (de-jure the Socialists, Liberals and Christian Democrats and internal factions within other parties) and a small Anti-European party (revolutionary leftists, ultranationalists and internal factions within other parties including the socialists, liberals and Christian Democrats).

While this is partly true - that the main parties are pro-EU and there is enourmeou consesus culture - you can find differences in policies that each EP pursued depending on the relative strenght of the main parties. Dominat EPP meant focus on lowering regulation, promoting freetrade and pro-buisness polics, Dominant Socialists pursued improved enviromental regulations, social protection and minority rigts and when these two parties were in balance, ALDE were the kingmakers and EP focused on administrative reforms of EU.

EDIT: And i would say that parties in US are even less coherent than in EP.

 

[The_J]

From most anti-EU to most Pro-EU, all the Dutch parties plus ideology

Spoiler :

-PVV (nationalist, very anti-EU)
-SGP/CU (political protestant, normally separate parties but compete in the EU parliamentary elections as one)
-SP (revolutionary socialist)
-VVD (conservative, law & order oriented)
-Pirate Party (self explanatory)
-PvdA (nominally 'social democrat', actually conservative)
-CDA (conservative, religion oriented)
-GroenLinks (green, left-liberal)
-D66 (left-libertarian, very Pro-EU)

Okay, thanks.
Guess I'll have to look up some of them more closely.
(I know there's a website which leads you with a questionaire through for which party you should vote, there's one for the communal elections this wee, guess there'll be one for european ones too; just didn't have enough clue about the communal stuff, else I'd already bothered a bit with it ^^)



And my god: That naming sometimes gives me headeaches.
e.g. Kaiserguard separates christian democratices as separate entity. Makes so far sense, since they're a different party than the regular conservatives here in the Netherlands, and probably don't belong to the EPP (I don't know).
The major German conservative party is named "Christian Democratic Union", therefore would qualify as christian democrats in that sense, but belong to the EPP.

More confusing: The major German leftwing party calls itself "social democratic", belongs to the Party of European Socialists. Unlike our socialist party, which belongs to the european communist party. Our communist party (not politically relevant) also associates with the european communists.

Not sure how Austrians deal with that, since their big "liberal" party is essentially right wing.

*ugh*.