On Wednesday, June 19, Astroza gave a lecture titled “The Future European Parliament.” The event was organized by the Jean Monnet Module “Thinking Europe” (ThinkEur) at Universidad ORT Uruguay in Universidad ORT Uruguay.
Astroza is a lawyer who graduated from the University of Concepción (Chile). She is currently an associate professor in the Faculty of Legal and Social Sciences and, since 2002, has served as the director and founder of the European Studies Program at that university. She holds a diploma in International Relations and Political Science, a master’s degree in Political Science and International Relations, and a doctorate in Political and Social Sciences, all from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium.
What Happened in the Elections
“We are still feeling the aftermath of these elections to this day,” Astroza said.
The European Parliament elections were held on different dates depending on each member country’s electoral system. France and Germany, the countries with the largest number of seats relative to their populations, played a key role in these elections.
The right made significant gains in Spain, France, and Germany, although overall, pro-European Union forces remain in the majority. Anti-European Union parties won around 25% of the seats, giving them a blocking minority.
“We can make a general assessment, but then we need to look at each country individually and start drawing some conclusions,” the expert noted.
The Right: Is It Gaining Ground?
“Clearly, the far right is on the rise in Germany, ”he added.
Despite the significant impact in France, Germany, and Spain, the right failed to secure a majority in the European Parliament as a whole. However, in these three countries, the rise of the right has had significant political repercussions.
In France, President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly and called for new elections, while in Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez faced a major challenge, seen as a referendum on his government. In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz continues to support the left in Spain and any party other than Le Pen’s in France, while maintaining the “traffic-light coalition” in his own country.
“The difference lies in the fact that the French system is semi-presidential or semi-parliamentary, depending on how scholars interpret it. In France, unlike other parliamentary systems, the president of the republic is directly elected by the people for a five-year term. This means that Macron is not putting his term at stake, ”Astroza explained.
France, Germany, and Spain: The Impact of the Results
In France, Macron’s defeat at the hands of Le Pen’s National Rally led to the dissolution of the National Assembly and the calling of early elections. In Spain, the opposition urged voters to punish Pedro Sánchez, creating a climate of intense political tension.
In Germany, the far-right’s victory in the former East Germany and the rise of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) highlighted the division between the two postwar Germanys.
Viktor Orbán: one of the “Eurocrats”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a conservative nationalist and right-wing populist, assumed the rotating presidency of the European Council. Orbán harshly criticized the left and stated that the election results show a rise in support for right-wing parties and a decline for the left and the liberals.
Astroza labeled him as one of the “Eurocrats” and highlighted the presence of a “corrupt elite.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCltmdxiafc
Internal Challenges in European Politics
The recent European Parliament elections have revealed a complex and fragmented landscape.
It’s not as if the far right has only recently begun to gain ground in Europe. These parties have been gaining traction since the 1990s, and some are even older. This is not a new phenomenon: it has been a gradual and steady process.
The rise of the far right in Europe is closely linked to populism. In many countries, the European Parliament elections are viewed through a national lens, and misinformation about the role and function of Members of the European Parliament is widespread. According to Astroza, “when people go to vote, they don’t even know what the European Parliament does.”
While the right has made significant gains in some of the European Union’s most influential countries, it has not secured a majority overall. European politics continues to be shaped by national dynamics and internal challenges, and the future of the European Parliament will depend on how countries and their leaders respond to these changes.
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