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EU Parliamentary Election: Low Voter Turn-out Predicted

by cyn.khoo | June 2, 2009 at 10:08 am

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The European Union will elect its 736 members of Parliament this week, from Thursday, June 4, to Sunday, June 7.

Voting takes place in Britain and the Netherlands on Thursday. Ireland votes on Friday, and Latvia, Cyprus, Malta and Slovakia vote on Saturday. The Czech Republic votes on Friday and Saturday and in Italy voting is on Saturday and Sunday. Voting takes place on Sunday in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

Members of Parliament are elected by proportional representation, based on an open list or closed list system, and according to each country's populazation size. While each member state has control over its own elections, all must adhere to EU mandates guaranteeing free, universal, and confidential suffrage in the elections. Germany elects the most representatives (99), while Malta elects the least (five).

Despite the EU's efforts to remain relevant in today's globalized landscape, apparent voter apathy may suggest otherwise.

Since the first European elections in 1979, the turnout has declined from 63% to 45% in 2004, with as little as 40% predicted this time.

However, this election may have larger issues at stake than usual, including the potential proposal of a new constitution that would increase parliamentary powers, a shift to the political left from centre-right due to the economic crisis, and the appointment of a new commission in Brussels.

Given all this, you would think it made sense for concerned EU voters to get out there and make their mark, either to give more power to the parliament’s elbow, or to influence its composition. But despite all the speeches and articles telling us that “Europe matters”, the polls all indicate that the message is not getting through.

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