The European Parliament elections results showed a decline in support for green parties, raising concerns about the future of climate policies in the region. The left-leaning Greens/European Free Alliance were set to win 52 seats, significantly lower than the 71 seats they secured five years ago. This decline comes amidst a shift to the right and a backlash against climate policies across the continent.
In countries like Germany, where the Greens govern as part of a coalition, support for the party nearly halved compared to 2019. This trend was seen in other countries like Austria and France, where far-right parties outperformed the Greens. Frustrated farmers and nationalist parties have been vocal critics of EU environmental regulations and green policies.
Bas Eickhout, lead candidate for the Green Party, expressed concerns about the rise of far-right parties and emphasized the need for Europe to step up its climate action to stay competitive globally. The losses in France and Germany were seen as a blow, but the Greens were set to place first in Denmark and the Netherlands. The party’s strong results in Sweden and Finland were noted as important milestones.
Researchers warned that the election outcome could pressure the European Green Deal, the region’s carbon neutrality program. With support for the far right increasing, there are concerns about the future of climate policies. However, Pedro Marques, vice president of the center-left Socialist and Democrats Group, emphasized the importance of moving forward with the Green Deal while supporting citizens and small enterprises through the transition.
Jorg Asmussen, CEO of the German Insurance Association, predicted that the outcome of the elections would not trigger a snap vote in Germany. He believed that the current coalition government would continue until September the following year. The influence of extremist parties on policies like migration and the Green Deal was expected to be limited.
Greenpeace highlighted that voters across the bloc ranked climate change and saving nature as top concerns, regardless of the election results. The group stressed the importance of holding politicians accountable to take action on climate change and environmental issues in the next five years. Despite the challenges ahead, the call for decisive action to protect the planet and future generations remains strong.
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