EP 2019: increasingly fragmented Parliament (fresh projections)

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The year of this unprecedented electoral event has started. Five months from now, European citizens will vote for the first time without the British. Euro-critical / eurosceptical forces are trying to organise so that they can challenge the status-quo: today, Salvini meets Kaczynski. What can happen in May’s elections?

Here are some of our latest projections:

– If current trends are confirmed, for the first time in history of the elected EP, the two largest groups (EPP + S&D) would not be able to command a majority of seats. Continue Reading

Winners and losers of EU politics – June 2018 (NATO, posting of drivers, etc)

Leave a comment Published in: EP Plenary, Insights, News, Varia

During June’s plenary session, MEPs took key decisions on the future rules for the workers in the road transportation sector, the future cooperation between the EU and NATO, and debated Rutte’s plans for the future of Europe.

As always, our special report highlights the most disputed issues, who made coalitions with whom, who won and who lost, the oddest voting behavior of EU Parliamentarians (MEPs) and the strangest bedfellows that occurred in Strasbourg. Continue Reading

What takeaways from the latest Italian political earthquake?

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Another major European election, another big earthquake for the (traditional) political establishment. In a historical Italian election, the mainstream parties that have dominated the Italian political life over the last 20 years (i.e. Renzi’s Democratic Party and Berlusconi’s Forza Italia) have been crushed by the 5 Star Movement (an internet-based party founded by a comedian), and the far-right League, whose campaign took inspiration from Donald Trump’s style. Continue Reading

Winners and losers of the EP Plenary Late October 2017

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The EU parliamentary session of late October 2017 was definitely rich in political developments. Politicians fought over who should get how much of the EU money, over the rules for fertilisers and, in an interesting turn of events, a majority ultimately agreed to a prolongation of the use of glyphosate.  Each of the new rules on the protection of whistle-blowers was fought tooth and nail, with just a few votes making the difference every time. Continue Reading

Winners and losers of the EP Plenary Early October 2017

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European Commission took another beating from the Parliament: its definition of endocrine disruptors gets rejected

The frustration of the bureaucrats in DG Health and Food Safety must be reaching a new high, as the elected EU politicians block their agenda once again. After being slapped with the rejection of their plans to approve a new genetically modified soybean, the Parliamentarians had an issue with the Executive’s definition of endocrine disruptors too. Continue Reading

Winners and losers of the EP Plenary September 2017

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While most of the attention during last week’s EP plenary was focused on President Juncker’s speech, several other important (and under-the-radar) developments caught our attention, which will make the object of this report. At VoteWatch we focus on concrete facts (ie. decisions made), rather than promises or broad statements: we combine our statistical expertise and qualitative political insight to provide the most accurate (and non-partisan) reporting of EU politics’ trends. Continue Reading

Who is the favourite to become the next President of the European Parliament?

Leave a comment Published in: Constitutional affairs, Insights, News, Politics & Institutions, Varia

On Tuesday 13th, the EPP group elected its candidate for replacing Schulz at the helm of the European Parliament. A prominent member of Forza Italia, Antonio Tajani, received the mandate to run for the Presidency, after his candidature collected more votes than the other three contestants (Peterle, Lamassoure and McGuinness). On the 17th January, Tajani will have to face off the candidates presented by the other political groups. Continue Reading

One year of far-right group in the EP: high participation, low success rate in shaping EU policies

Leave a comment Published in: Constitutional affairs, EP Plenary, Insights, News, Politics & Institutions, Varia

On the 15th of June, the far-right eurosceptic Europe of Nations and Freedom celebrated its first birthday. Many have wondered what the constitution of this group, made up of Marine Le Pen’s Front National and their foreign legion, would mean for the political dynamics in the European Parliament and EU policies as a whole. We have looked into their behaviour and results over this past year. Continue Reading