Smaller popular parties determining factor in MEP elections
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While the Centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) and centre-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D), the two biggest groups in the European Parliament, continue to be forecast as scooping up the most seats in the European elections this month.
But it’s expected that the smaller, but popular , ones that could shake up which MEPs make it to Brussels, according to the latest projections from Europe Elects.
The EPP and the S&D will secure the most seats in parliament despite both losing dozens compared to the 2014 elections, though neither are forecast to reign in a majority.
The centre-left S&D group is poised to lose 32 seats while the front running EPP is projected to lose 41.
If Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz Party, which is aligned with the EPP, decides to join the European Alliance for People and Nations group that was created by Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the populist Lega (League) party, the centre-right EPP could see its lead at risk.
The wildcards, however, are British MEP Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party, Italy’s 5-Star Movement and French President Emmanuel Macron’s LREM, which has been expected to join the liberal ALDE party but has yet to formally join the group.
The newly formed Brexit Party is, by default, housed with the populist Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group. But it’s possible, even likely, that Farage’s party will join the ranks of another Eurosceptic group in parliament. Should this happen, the EFDD will cease to exist unless other parties suddenly throw their weight behind the group.
The British Conservatives are going through its lowest vote share in polls and elections on the UK-level since its foundation in 1834.
The latest polls indicate the Conservatives are headed for a thrashing, while the Brexit Party (EFDD) and UK Labour (S&D) leading the polls.
