Unlike national elections, national seats will soon become part of European super factions. Which European political family does your vote go to?
EPP (European People's Party)
The EPP was originally a collaboration of Christian Democratic parties, but other, often conservative, parties have now also joined.The EPP positions itself as a 'center-right' faction with a predominantly pro-European agenda. The faction is conducting a fairly protectionist campaign with the spearheads of 'defending European values' and protecting Europe against threats from within and without. The latter refers to both the influence of the radical right and the military threat from Russia or the economic threat from China.
PES (Party of Democratic Socialists)
The Party of European Socialists is a transnational political group representing the interests of allied socialist and social democratic parties in Europe. The group attempts to create common social democratic policies on such issues as EU enlargement and the development of a common security and foreign policy. The Party of European Socialists is a transnational political group representing the interests of allied socialist and social democratic parties in Europe. The group attempts to create common social democratic policies on such issues as EU enlargement and the development of a common security and foreign policy.
Renew Europe (Liberals)
the European Liberal Group is a strong opponent of cooperation with the radical right and has even made this one of the spearheads in the campaign. Renew is emphatically pro-European and also presents itself as a green faction. But climate protection must go hand in hand 'with economic prosperity', as stated on the group's website. The Renew is less outspoken about migration and asylum.
ID (Identity & Democracy)
The vast majority of eyes will be focused on this faction in these elections, which has only existed since 2019. Now that extreme right and radical right parties are on the rise in Europe, it is expected that the European faction in which these forces are united will experience growth. A recent Ipsos poll shows that I&D will jump from the current 59 to 81 seats.
European Conservatives and Reformers
Identity and Democracy is not the only radical right faction in parliament. This faction feels related to I&D, but is slightly less anti-EU. The history of its origins tells a lot about the character of the club. In 2005, the British Conservatives led by David Cameron, who later called the Brexit referendum, decided to leave the EPP and set up their own group. Like I&D, the faction opposes federalization and restriction of national sovereignty, but it does believe in the European approach to, for example, the migration problem.
The Greens
The European Greens have had the wind at their backs in Europe in recent years. In a short time, important climate and environmental laws were put on the table. But towards the elections, disappointments piled up. The nature restoration law was put on hold due to a lack of support from member states and the right flank of the European Parliament has now launched an attack on the Green Deal.
