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POLITICS-EUROPE: Protest Marks Parliamentary Vote
By Stefania Bianchi
BRUSSELS, Jun 14, 2004 (IPS) - Voters across the European Union have used their vote in the
parliamentary elections over the weekend to show their disquiet with national
governments and the institution itself.
European elections were held in each of the 25 member states of the European
Union
(EU) between Thursday and Sunday (June 10 and 13).
As results came in Sunday night (June 13) the indications were that many
opposition
and Eurosceptic parties across the bloc recorded their best result.
Governing parties in Germany, France and Poland suffered big losses as Europe
was
swept by a wave of protest over a range of EU and non-EU issues.
The European elections gave some 350 million voters the chance to vote, but the
mood of discontent was also reflected in a record low turnout of approximately 45
percent. This marked a 5 percent fall from the 1999 elections.
The European Parliament, the EU's only directly elected institution, aims to bring
a
measure of democratic control and accountability over other EU bodies. Its powers
have
increased over recent years with new EU treaties.
Turnout in the EU's 10 new member states was particularly disappointing. The
novelty
of European elections had been expected to attract a high number of voters.
Just about 40.3 percent from the new states voted, a worrying sign that the
idealism
of enlargement is already disappearing.
The main political group in the Parliament - the conservative European Peoples
Party
(EPP) - maintained its lead as the biggest single bloc with a share of 265 (36.9
percent)
of the 732 seats.
The biggest shock for the assembly came from Britain, where the United Kingdom
Independence Party (UKIP), which wants complete withdrawal from the EU, secured
12
seats in a total of 78.
Eurosceptics also achieved major victories in other EU member states.
In Sweden the recently formed Junilistan that is critical of the EU came third,
securing
three seats. In Belgium the far-right Vlaams Blok party won an estimated 14..3
percent
of the vote, making it the second biggest party in the vote.
Robert Kilroy-Silk, a former British television presenter and now UKIP Member of
the
European Parliament said in his acceptance speech Sunday that "the British public
want
their country back from Brussels and we are going to get it back for them."
Liberal leader Graham Watson said he "regretted" the rise in the number of
Eurosceptics. "These people tend to be the wreckers, the ones who are against
finding
solutions."
Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, president of the Party of the European Socialists (PES)
said
Eurosceptics would not hamper the work of the Parliament.
"The election results are very satisfying, despite reverses in some countries,"
Rasmussen and Enrique Barón, PES leader in the Parliament said in a joint
statement. "All
in all, we have kept our strength. Now we will deliver on our promises."
A large part of the electorate voted as a mark of no confidence for national ruling
parties. Many voters in France and Germany used their vote to record their concern
over
feeble economic growth and reforms to the social security and labour markets.
In Britain Prime Minister Tony Blair was punished by voters for supporting the
U.S.-led
war in Iraq war as the Conservative party pushed the ruling Labour party into
second
place.
The parliamentary election results come just days before Europe's leaders meet in
Brussels Jun. 17 and 18 to agree the next phase of EU integration by finalising the
draft
constitution which outlines policies after enlargement.
However, Sunday night's results may now threaten the ability of EU leaders to sell
the
constitution to hostile voters, many of who will be asked to ratify the treaty in
national
referendums.
Pat Cox, former president of the European Parliament said the Eurosceptic surge
was a
"wake up call" for pro-EU political leaders across Europe.
"This is especially important as a wake up call for those leaders in those states
who
propose to hold referendum on the constitutional treaty," he said in a statement
Sunday. (END)
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