European Parliament election, 2009
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Elections to the European Parliament will be held around the month of June 2009 in the 27 member states of the European Union, using varying election days according to local custom. 496 million Union citizens will elect 736 MEPs by proportional representation, topping the 2004 election which was the biggest trans-national election in history. It could potentially be the first election to take place under the expected Treaty of Lisbon, increasing the power of the Parliament and relevance of the election.
Changes in this electionNew member statesThis will be the first European Parliament election that Bulgaria and Romania will participate in at the same time as the other member states. They had joined in 2007, increasing the overall number of MEPs above the agreed threshold; seats have been reallocated to bring the total back down, to 736 after the 2009 elections; the Treaty of Lisbon sets the total to 751 (see Apportionment below). Croatia hopes to join in 2009 and participate in the elections; however, due to the EU's difficulties, European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn has that said 2010 is more likely accession date.[1] This was however before the June agreement on the Treaty of Lisbon, which is scheduled to come into force 1 January 2009. This might increase the likelihood of Croatia joining before the election. Media coverageNational broadcasters, the EBU and the Communication Commissioner, Margot Wallström, are jointly working to make the 2009 election more interesting to the public in order to increase the turnout. Previously, diverse traditions of election night coverage and the situation that the election takes place over several days, have made it hard to attract viewers. The media consortium is hoping to focus the 2009 election more towards the EU level and the European Parliament itself, hoping to make the election more interesting and cosmetically appealing for television viewers.[2] Members of the European Parliament (MEP) also started initiatives in late 2007 to make the election more interesting to voters in a bid to increase turnout.[3] 'Truly' pan-European partiesA new type of parties has emerged since the 2004 election, namely Newropeans, Procapitalism, Europe United and Europe – Democracy – Esperanto. They intend to run for campaigns in the 2009 election in more or less all member states simultaneously, although they are currently very limited in size. As opposed to established European parties such as the European People's Party or the Party of European Socialists, the new parties are not alliances of pre-existing national parties. The European Greens were the first to form a formal party to launch their cross-border campaign in 2004.[citation needed] Potential eventsCommission PresidentThe Treaty of Lisbon is expected to enter into force in time for the elections, which retains many of the changes originally outlined in the European Constitution.[4] These changes increase the powers of Parliament, including powers over the appointment of the President of the European Commission.[5] It has been suggested by some that political parties could run with candidates for the Commission President;[6] with leaders now linking the post to elections and that convention having being enshrined in the Constitution, further encouraging the possibility.[7] Plans by Margot Wallström would support political parties to run candidates, Barroso is seeking a second term and may gain the support of the European People's Party.[8] Alliance for Europe of the NationsIreland's Fianna Fáil, uncomfortable in the Alliance for Europe of the Nations (AEN) party, is expected to make another attempt to leave the group in favour of another party. It has previously attempted to join the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party. [9][10] The AEN is also under threat from a potential new group led by members of the European Democrats, who are attempting to woo at least two of its parties away. Such a move, combined with the departure by Fianna Fáil would mean that the AEN's group in the Parliament, Union for Europe of the Nations, would cease to exist for a lack of members. Movement for European ReformThe Conservatives and Ulster Unionists of the United Kingdom, together with the Czech Civic Democrats will leave the European Democrats (effectively dissolving it through lack of members, as only one Italian will be left), which is currently allied to the European People's Party (EPP); instead, these parties will form a new parliamentary grouping based on the Movement for European Reform (MER).[11] Although the Conservatives alone have the minimum required number of MEPs at 19, they would still need to join with parties from three other countries to formally create a group. There is speculation that two Polish parties -- Law and Justice and Civic Platform -- would join the proposed grouping. The latter has stated that it will not leave the EPP and the former plans to stay aligned to AEN,[12], although if Fianna Fáil were to leave that group, it might lose influence enough for Law and Justice to consider moving. Another possible party is the Latvian TB/LNNK, also currently aligned with AEN. There are also numerous independents that might join the group. The most optimistic estimates suggest MER could become the third largest group in the Parliament.[13] Apportionment
At the previous election member states were granted a fixed allocation of seats for election (current allocation is in the 2007 column below). With the admission of Bulgaria and Romania, these allocations will be modified under the existing Treaty of Nice (see first 2009 column below). However, provided the Treaty of Lisbon is ratified and comes into force before the election as planned, there would be an increase in seats leading to a slightly different distribution (see second 2009 column below);
References
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