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The key player in the previous EP was the liberals, now it will be the EPP

Vladimir Shopov: Because of the early elections in France, Europe will not have the luxury of rearranging its priorities

Jun 15, 2024 10:20 88

The key player in the previous EP was the liberals, now it will be the EPP  - 1

The right-wing parties have a total majority in the European Parliament. The centrist pro-European parties again received a majority, which will in all probability be enough to elect the president of the European Commission.

This is what political scientist Vladimir Shopov told BNR.

He drew attention to the fragmentation of the right and pointed out that the relative share and influence of the EPP is constantly decreasing. According to him, here is the main political dynamic that should be observed.

Within the framework of the European right, 4 components are being formed, explained Shopov.

"The political conversation between 3 of these 4 formations will largely influence the way the legislative activity of the next EP will look."

Evolution and transformation in more extreme parts of the right-wing segment will allow the formation of larger majorities, the analyst believes.

"There are topics that remain taboo. There are political identities and requests that are anti-European. They are essentially anti-liberal. At the same time, in parts of this broader right-wing space, there is an evolution that allows, on certain topics, the approach of some of these formations to a democratic constitutional majority", commented Vladimir Shopov in the program "Saturday 150".

The key, balancing player in the previous parliament was the Liberals, he recalled.

"The percentage of implemented policies with them is over 90. Now this player will be the EPP."

It will be interesting to see where the sum of majorities will shift in the daily activity of the EP, Shopov pointed out and predicted that it would be more to the right.

According to him, the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen is likely.

"No convincing alternatives to her are heard, but the choice will not be easy."

There are almost 100 MPs in this EP who either have no group affiliation or are now elected for the first time and are not part of European party families. For the EPP, there is a hidden resource in this floating number as well, the political scientist emphasized. Meloni will not go on a direct confrontation with Von der Leyen, he expects.

Vladimir Shopov also noted the weakening of Macron's political positions, not only because of the results of the Euro vote in France, but also as a result of the risky move to trigger early parliamentary elections.

Defining the decision of the French president as an "excessively risky move", Shopov pointed out that the way in which he will force the restructuring of the political system will not be in his favor. In his words, Macron cannot create a convincing counterweight to Marine Le Pen. A pole is also forming around the extreme left.

"France may find itself in a situation where the political process is forced in an unpredictable way."

Europe was counting on having at least 2.2 and a half years until the next French election in which to rearrange its priorities. It seems that Europe will not have this luxury, reports Vladimir Shopov.