Far-right parties made significant gains in the recent European Union parliamentary elections, challenging traditional powers and dealing a notable blow to French President Emmanuel Macron. The election saw a shift to the right within the 27-member bloc, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni doubling her seats and Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party overcoming scandals to surpass the Social Democrats of Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party dominated the French polls, causing Macron to dissolve the national parliament and call for new elections. Le Pen’s party won over 30% of the vote, significantly outperforming Macron’s Renew party. In Germany, the AfD’s success brought them to 16.5% of the vote, marking a rise from 11% in 2019 and positioning them as the second strongest force in the nation. The vote was marked as a critical test for EU democracies, with significant shifts in political power across the bloc. The elections were the world’s second-largest democratic exercise, following India’s recent election. The French far-right National Rally party, led by Jordan Bardella, achieved a significant lead in the recent EU elections, as indicated by first projected results. Across the EU, the mainstream Christian Democrats and Socialists remained the dominant forces, but the rise of the far right came at the expense of the Greens and Macron’s Renew group. This shift suggests that the far right could play a major role in EU policies on migration, security, and climate. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed forming a coalition with the Social Democrats and pro-business Liberals to counter this. The election outcomes showed the Christian Democrats gaining seats, while the Social Democrats and Renew group lost seats, and the Greens experienced a notable decline. Germany exemplified this trend, with the Christian Democrats dominating and the Greens falling significantly. The electoral shift to the right raises concerns about potential legislative gridlock in the EU. The EU elections, occurring amidst challenges like the pandemic, economic issues, and the Ukraine crisis, underscored a broader rightward shift in EU politics, with populist or far-right parties now leading or part of governments in several countries. Original Text by R. Casert, L. Cook , and S. Petrequin, publish in -> ABCnews

MEPs have added paragraphs to the resolution on Russia relating to the situation in Belarus. The resolution itself was adopted on April 28. According to the amendment, the European Parliament condemns the Kremlin’s support of undemocratic repressive regimes in Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Syria, and Belarus. It is also deeply concerned about the political arrests of Belarusians in Russia and their subsequent extradition to Belarus. By Yessenia Avitia. Full Text -> Belsat

The European Parliament will call on European Union governments to recognise Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president, according to a draft resolution set to be agreed on Thursday, after a downgrade of his status by the bloc earlier this month. The resolution, which will be voted on at 1530 GMT, is not legally binding but carries political weight. By Robin Emmott. Full Text -> Reuters

During the debate, several lawmakers — particularly Spanish and Portuguese MEPs from the European People’s Party and Renew Europe — intervened to criticize Borrell’s statement. Members from the far left, however, expressed support for Maduro and criticized attempts to support Guaidó. Lawmakers plan to vote on a resolution on Thursday which, in its current draft version, calls on EU member states to “unequivocally recognize” the previously elected Venezuelan National Assembly from 2015 “and the legitimate interim President of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó.” B y Hans Von Der Burchard. Full Text -> Politico

This Wednesday, we discussed in the European Parliament the dramatic situation in Venezuela. The country suffers from a deep political crisis with enormous humanitarian consequences. In recent weeks we have been trying to help create the minimum conditions for free and fair legislative elections. So far, the Maduro Government has refused to postpone them. However, I will continue to work for a democratic solution which is the only way out. By Josep Borrell. Full Text-> EuropeanUnionExternalAction

orrell vehemently denied sending a “secret” mission to Venezuela in the run-up to the December 6 national elections, telling members it comprised two EEAS diplomats who were dispatched to the country to establish contacts with the government, opposition and civil society. However, EPP member Manfred Weber, in a letter to Borrell, said it was a “clandestine” mission which was aimed at “legitimising” the government of Nicolás Maduro. By Martin Banks. Full Text-> TheParliament

Remarks by the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at the EP plenary debate on the EU diplomatic mission in Venezuela in view of possible elections (Spanish)

The head of European diplomacy, the socialist Josep Borrell, will appear this week in the European Parliament after the popular, backed by Ciudadanos and Vox, accused him of following Sánchez’s dictates by sending a community mission to Caracas to request a postponement of the elections. By Bhavi Mandalia. Full Text -> PledgeTimes

Finally, the European Parliament calls for conditions to be created that would lead to free, transparent and credible presidential and legislative elections. It strongly regrets the threats made by Venezuela’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro to expel the EU ambassador from Caracas, due to new EU sanctions announced against eleven Venezuelan officials, even though the recent decision by the regime to do so was eventually reversed. Full Text-> EuropeanParliamentNews