After voting wrapped up in India and Mexico last week, the biggest election year ever continues apace with perhaps the most pivotal European Union parliamentary elections ever.
Driving the news: EU parliamentary elections end tomorrow. Nearly 400 million people in 27 member states are eligible to vote for representatives to the EU branch, which has the final say on the budget and elects the president of the executive European Commission.
- An April poll showed that 71% of Europeans said they would likely cast a ballot. If that holds, it would be a record turnout.
Why it matters: The aim of the European Parliament is to reflect the collective interests of citizens on how the bloc governs and spends money. With Europe fiercely divided around hot-button issues like migration and Ukraine, that’s becoming harder than ever before.
- Other top voter concerns include the flagging economy and the ongoing tensions between the EU’s climate commitments and farmers.
- A far-right surge is expected to sweep more seats, which stands to upend existing power balances and shift European policy rightward.
In Canada: These elections could affect Canada’s EU free trade agreement, which isn’t ratified in 10 EU nations. In March, France’s Senate voted against the deal, putting its future in jeopardy.—QH