2019 European Parliament election to reshape European identity?

Voters elect the ninth European Parliament in a poll that appears likely to see centrist domination of the 751-seat body eroded by a tide of euroskepticism and far-right sentiment.

The euroskepticism might account for growing disinterest in the election. Since the vote for the parliament opened to EU citizens in 1979, according to the EU Observer, voter turnout has only decreased – from 62 per cent then to just 43 per cent in 2014.

The European People’s Party (EPP) dominates the 8th Parliament, followed by the European Socialist & Democratic Party (S&D). The other major groups are the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) and the European Free Alliance Greens (Verts/ALE). The right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) and Euroskeptic Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD also hold seats.

Politico.eu observes that even if the EPP remains the leading force, as is widely expected, it is unlikely to enjoy the same sway it does now.

The parliament groups are different from national parties as they consist of members from several different parties from several member states.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s La République en Marche (LREM) party is a first-time participant in the election, and the overall impact of its arrival depends on whether Macron attempts to build a new political group at the European level or whether he joins up with ALDE. Euractiv reported in April that he is keeping everyone guessing.

The publication also reported that his LREM wants to turn the EU elections into a duel with Marine Le Pen’s far-right Rassemblement National (National Rally), formerly Le Front National (National Front). Le Pen renamed the National Front in a bid to appeal to a broader range of voters in May.

The far-right cohort goes into the May vote energized by their showing in recent elections in France and Italy.

The turmoil in Britain over Brexit appears likely to swell the Euroskeptic cohort. Britain failed to exit the bloc on the due date of Mar 29, and will have to hold a vote for its 73 EP seats. The chaos has energized the pro-Brexit camp. Nigel Farage, who shocked Westminster by leading his Euroskeptic UKIP to victory over the Conservatives and Labour Party in the EP election in 2014, quit UKIP and launched the Brexit Party to contest the EP vote. UKIP, defining itself as a "radical, populist" party, according to a BBC report, will also contest the vote.