Polls suggest that nationalistic and euroskeptic parties will make considerable gains at the expense of the center and far left groups in the upcoming May elections
On a local and national level, euroskeptic parties have achieved major victories over the past half-decade, and new polls suggest that this trend will make an impact at the European level as well. A poll conducted by the German Bild media outlet in Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Spain and Poland concluded that important shifts were about to be seen in the upcoming May 23-26 European Parliament elections. Specifically, the Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF) group is set to double its seats from 37 to 67 in the 705-seat semi-legislative body.
Pro-EU conservative and leftist parties are predicted to be the elections biggest losers following a continual streak of losses on the national level in each of those states polled and beyond.
The conservative European People’s Party (EPP), the parliament’s biggest group, is predicted to lose 43 seats, going down to 174 from 217.
The leftist Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats (S&P), the second-largest group in the body, was also predicted to lose a further 45 seats, dropping to 141 from 186. According to the poll, the ENF’s predicted strong showing at the European level is just the reflection of the political situation on the national level in countries like France, Germany, Italy, Poland and others
BY DAILY SABAH NEWS
