European election results confirm pro-European consolidation and rise of the far right

In the recent European elections, the results have made it clear that the major pro-European groups have reaffirmed their majority in the European Parliament, although with a slight decrease compared to previous polls and the previous legislature. On the other hand, the far right and ultra-conservatives have experienced a significant increase throughout Europe, reflecting a rising trend in several member states. The European People's Party has once again consolidated its position as the main force in the upcoming European Parliament, obtaining 189 seats and standing out for its good results in countries like Spain and Germany. Meanwhile, the Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in Europe positions itself as the second group with 135 MEPs, while the liberals maintain their third position despite losing a fifth of their representatives. Given this landscape, the current President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has reached out to the social democrats and liberals to reach an agreement and form a new pro-European majority for the next five years of the legislature. This coalition attempt aims to counter the advance of the far right and nationalists in the European Parliament. The need to build a stable majority leads the main groups to consider the possibility of including the Greens in their ranks, who have shown willingness to collaborate responsibly to achieve this goal. Additionally, the rise of the ultra-conservatives, nationalists, and Eurosceptics as winners in these elections reflects a shift towards the right in European politics. In this scenario, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) have obtained 72 seats, while the far-right Identity and Democracy group has secured 58 seats, opening the possibility for other parties sympathetic to these currents to join their ranks in the coming weeks. This configuration places the European People's Party in a key position to determine the direction of future majorities in the European Parliament. Despite efforts by European institutions to boost citizen participation, the voter turnout in these elections has remained at around 51%, showing that challenges persist regarding mobilizing the electorate. The lack of greater citizen involvement in these elections represents a challenge to strengthen the legitimacy of decisions made at the European level. In conclusion, the European elections have demonstrated the consolidation of traditional pro-European groups, the rise of the far right, and the need to seek alliances to ensure a stable and progressive majority in the European Parliament. The challenge for the coming years will be to build consensus and address the challenges posed by an increasingly polarized political landscape in Europe.