Netherlands Set to Begin Four-Day EU Elections Across 27 Countries
The Netherlands has commenced its voting in the European Union parliamentary elections, being the first EU country to start polling early, followed by Ireland on Friday. This voting period comes six months after Geert Wilders' far-right Party for Freedom became the largest party in the Dutch national parliament. Current polls indicate that Wilders may gain further popularity, potentially influencing the broader EU political landscape.
The European Parliament elections will select 720 members from across the continent, with the results being announced after all member states have completed voting. Key issues in this election include global climate policies, defense, migration, and geopolitical relations with major powers like China and the United States. While there is an anticipated shift towards right-wing parties, the Christian Democrat-dominated European People’s Party, led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, is expected to play a significant role as a coalition kingmaker. The elections represent the world's second-largest democratic exercise, involving nearly 400 million voters.
