2019 EU Elections: A Guide to the Results
A Breakdown of the Key Numbers and Winners
The 2019 European Parliament elections saw significant changes in the political landscape of the EU. With the United Kingdom's exit from the bloc, the European Parliament lost 73 seats. This loss was partly offset by the creation of three additional seats following the European Parliament's decision to increase the size of the body by nine members.
The elections were marked by a rise in support for far-right and nationalist parties, as well as a decline in the traditional center-left and center-right parties. The European People's Party (EPP), the center-right party that has traditionally dominated the European Parliament, lost seats but remained the largest party.
The center-left Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) also lost seats but remained the second-largest party. The far-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and the right-wing populist Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF) both made gains.
Winners and Losers in Key Countries
In France, the far-right National Rally (RN) led by Marine Le Pen emerged as the top party, while President Emmanuel Macron's La République En Marche! party came second.
In Germany, the ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), remained the largest block but lost seats to the Greens and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
In the United Kingdom, the Brexit Party won a majority of seats, while the pro-European Liberal Democrats and the Labour Party lost ground.
Next Steps for the EU Parliament
The newly elected European Parliament will have a major impact on the future of the EU. The Parliament is set to play a key role in shaping the bloc's response to Brexit, as well as in addressing other challenges facing the EU, such as climate change and economic growth.
The Parliament will also be responsible for electing the next European Commission, the EU's executive body. The new Commission will be led by Ursula von der Leyen, who was nominated by the EPP.
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