Members of the EU Parliament vote during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Starsbourg, France June 13, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
The upcoming European Parliament election in June could pose a significant challenge to the governance of the European Union if far-right parties perform strongly, as seen in the recent Dutch vote and indicated by current opinion polls. Stéphane Séjourné, the leader of the centrist Renew Europe group, expressed concern about the rise of far-right parties, including Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in France and Matteo Salvini’s League in Italy, which are expected to advocate for stricter immigration policies and a more lenient stance on climate issues.
Séjourné warned of the potential for an “ungovernable Europe” if populist and far-right movements gain considerable influence across the continent. The coalition formed by Renew, the centre-right European People’s Party, and the centre-left Socialists and Democrats group, which has dominated the European Parliament with 420 out of 705 seats, may face challenges in forming a cohesive majority.
The recent victory of anti-immigration populist Geert Wilders in the Dutch election serves as a cautionary signal for mainstream politicians. In France, President Emmanuel Macron’s party, a significant part of the Renew group, currently lags behind far-right leader Marine Le Pen by 8-10 percentage points in polls.
Séjourné emphasized the difficulty of forming a majority and ruled out alliances with the far-right or eurosceptic European Conservatives and Reformists group, which includes Poland’s Law and Justice party. He also expressed skepticism about collaborating with the Greens group.
To counter the far-right surge, Séjourné suggested that mainstream parties should highlight existing EU agreements, particularly those related to hosting migrants, and shift focus to other critical issues such as the green and digital transitions and defense. As Europe braces for a crucial electoral period, the outcome will not only shape the political landscape within individual countries but also have far-reaching implications for the future governance of the European Union.
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