European Parliament election, 2014

The 2014 European elections will be the eighth European elections, in which the European Parliament is directly elected. In accordance with the provisions of the Direct Elections to take place between Thursday 22 and Sunday, May 25, 2014 instead. In Germany, Austria and Luxembourg is elected on 25 May 2014.

It is the first European elections after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, so that it provides redistribution of number of seats per country for the first time apply.

  • 3.1 European People's Party
  • 3.2 Party of European Socialists
  • 3.3 Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
  • 3.4 European Green Party
  • 3.5 European Left
  • 3.6 Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists
  • 3.7 European Democratic Party
  • 3.8 European Pirate Party
  • 3.9 European Alliance for Freedom
  • 3.10 Other parties

Election date

In accordance with Articles 10 and 11 Direct Elections the election will take place in a period between Thursday and Sunday exactly five years after the previous European elections. Since the 2009 European election fell on the 4th to 7 June 2009, this would mean that the 2014 European elections takes place between the 5th and 8th June 2014. By a unanimous decision of the EU Council, which must be taken at least one year before the scheduled date, the date of the election by up to two months forward or a month can be moved to the rear; it must, however, include to Sunday definitely a period from Thursday. The European Parliament has requested in its resolution of 22 November 2012 on the European Parliament elections in 2014 ( 2012/2829 (RSP ) ) the Council, the European election to either the May 15 to 18 or 22 to May 25 2014 to be preferred. On 14 June 2013, the Council decided to hold to 25 May 2014, the elections of 22.

Each Member State of the European Union may set within this period even when the polls are open in his country. Therefore, the exact tuning appointment follows the respective traditions in different countries: In Germany, the election on Sunday, May 25, 2014 held in Austria and other countries is usually selected Sundays, in the UK and the Netherlands, however, on Thursday.

The appointment will be used in some countries for other options. To find, for example, the general election in Belgium in 2014 and the elections to the Hamburg district assemblies by law parallel to the European elections take place. In parts of Germany and the United Kingdom local elections.

Selection mode

Governing suffrage

According to the existing European election law, each Member State has a fixed number of seats, which according to the principle of degressive proportionality larger states more generally each had seats than smaller states, the smaller states but more seats per capita than larger ones. Active and passive voting right in all EU citizens are above a certain age limit, as may be determined each country. Union citizens who do not have the citizenship of the country in which they live, can decide whether they want to vote in their country of citizenship, residence or domicile. Also, citizens with multiple citizenships can pick and choose which of these countries want to select themselves. As an electoral system of proportional representation is established in all countries, with the restrictive clause shall not exceed five percent. However, the exact configuration is again left to the Member States themselves.

Distribution of seats among the member countries

With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the total number of Members of the European Parliament has increased from 736 to 751. Eleven countries were therefore a total of 18 additional MPs send ( see "Additional members after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty "). At the same time the maximum number per country was set to 96. However, Germany is the only country concerned so far retained its 99 seats up for election in 2014. With the accession of Croatia on 1 July 2013 this country can send 12 deputies to the European Parliament. Thus the number of deputies increased to 766

To select the 2014 figure is adjusted back to 751 seats. Moreover, launched by the European Parliament an initiative to reform the European election law before the election in 2014 comprehensively. A part of the MEPs should no longer be elected at the national headquarters quotas, but on common pan-European lists. Provided for this purpose were 25 additional seats for which each political party may propose a list of candidates at the European level and each Group in the European Parliament. In addition, the national seat quotas should be recalculated and uniform rules are developed for their choice, such as a uniform election date and clearer guidance for the design of proportional representation. A proposal in 2008 by Andrew Duff, the competent Parliament's rapporteur, introduced and adopted in April 2011 by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs. Such a reform would, however, made ​​an alteration of the EU Treaty necessary and should therefore have been ratified by all Member States of the EU. The proposal was eventually dropped. Similarly, another proposal of Duff on the distribution of seats was not accepted.

At the suggestion of Roberto Gualtieri and Rafał Trzaskowski the Spring European Council following initiative: Croatia will be allocated according to the foreseen in the Lisbon Treaty " degressive proportionality " eleven seats. Eleven countries, who according to the degressive proportionality and taking into account the minimum number of six seats too many mandates, must submit one of the previous seats each. This proposal was adopted by the European Council on 28 June 2013.

Special regulations of member countries

In Germany, a three percent electoral threshold was introduced for elections to the European Parliament at first, which should ensure a reliable majority formation in the European Parliament and the smooth functioning of the EU executive. This was decided by the Bundestag on 13 June 2013, the votes of the CDU, CSU, FDP, SPD and Greens, responding to a ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court, in its judgment (Case No. 2 BvC 4/10 others) from November 9, 2011 the previous five-percent hurdle in European elections declared unconstitutional. Among other things, 2.8 million votes were thus not taken into account in the last election in 2009. The sentence was carried out by five of the eight judges. The judges Mellinghoff Rudolf and Udo Di Fabio criticized the verdict of their peers in a dissenting opinion. In their view, the restrictive clause is admissible because it is intended to reduce functional impairments of the EU Parliament. Appealed the new restrictive clause, among other things, the association for more democracy, a constitutional complaint. The Pirate Party Germany and other small parties filed with the Federal Constitutional Court dispute between organs. On 18 December 2013, the Federal Constitutional Court negotiated orally about the lawsuits. On February 26, 2014 three months before the upcoming election (May 25 ), the Federal Constitutional Court declared the three- percent threshold unconstitutional and void.

Seat allocation procedures of the member countries

In each country, different seat allocation procedures. The most common method used is the D' Hondt method; it is used in 17 countries. In three countries, the Hare- Niemeyer method, the Sainte- Laguë method or the (STV) method of the Transferable Einzelstimmgebung apply. In two countries, the ratio method is used with Droop quota. And in a country the method of Enishimeni - Analogiki is applied.

Summary table selection mode

* Note: The Federal Constitutional Court declared the restrictive clause in European elections on 26 February unconstitutional and void.

Parties and Candidates

At the European elections in the 28 Member States each national parties compete. These, however, have partially merged to form political parties at European level or Europe parties. Which came into force on 1 December 2009 the Lisbon Treaty stipulates that the European Parliament elects the proposed ( by the European Council ) President of the European Commission. The European Council, when the proposal take into account the outcome of the European elections ( see Article 17, paragraph 7 of the TEU ). The major European parties have therefore announced to nominate candidates for the office of President of the Commission before the election. Realistic chances are granted only Jean -Claude Juncker and Martin Schulz.

European People's Party

The Christian Democratic and conservative European People's Party ( EPP) is currently the most votes in the European Parliament European party - the party EPP has 262 deputies who EPP 275 members. The EPP candidate was nominated at a convention on March 6 in Dublin. The former Luxembourg Prime Minister and Euro - group chief Jean -Claude Juncker was in advance of the election as a favorite. Another candidate stepped up to the EU Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier. The former Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis withdrew his candidacy on the day before the election returns. Juncker was finally elected with 382 votes. Barnier united 245 votes. In Germany come for the EPP CDU / CSU and in Austria at the ÖVP.

Party of European Socialists

The Party of European Socialists (PES ) is the second largest party at European level. In the European Parliament, it is represented by 181 deputies in the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats (S & D) are 194 deputies represented. The candidate of the SPE European Parliament President Martin Schulz. The German member of the SPD, the Austrian SPÖ.

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

The Liberal Party Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe ( ALDE) is currently 75 MEPs ( 85 in the ALDE Group ), Europe 's third largest party. Your top candidates are the ALDE Group chairman and former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, and the Vice- President of the European Commission Olli Rehn. ALDE is represented in Germany by the FDP. Austrian member of the Liberal Forum, which is now in Neos - went over Austria and the New Liberal Forum. The non-party Angelika Werthmann (formerly List Dr. Martin) is a member of the ALDE Group.

European Green Party

The European Green Party ( EGP) currently has 46 members in the European Parliament. In the common fraction with the European Free Alliance G / EFA sit 58 parliamentarians. The Greens particular their two top candidates in a Europe-wide online code. Candidates were José Bové, Rebecca Harms, Monica Frassoni and Ska Keller. The German Ska Keller was chosen ahead of Frenchman José Bové. German member of the EGP are Alliance 90/The Greens, Austrian Greens - The Green Alternative.

European Left

The European Left ( EL) currently has 15 members in the European Parliament. The Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left (GUE / NGL) has 35 members. At the meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the EL on October 19, 2013 in Madrid, it was decided to choose a common candidate for the office of President of the European Commission to prevent that " the forces that are responsible for the crisis," obtain a monopoly during the election campaign. The Council decided at the next party congress on 13 to 15 December 2013, Madrid, to propose the candidature of Alexis Tsipras because he is " the voice of resistance and hope against the ultra - liberal policies and the extreme right confronts ". The German equivalent is The Left, in Austria, the Austrian Communist Party, which competes differently within the electoral alliance Europe.

Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists

The conservative and Eurosceptic Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists ( AEKR ) currently has 51 members in the European Parliament European Conservatives and Reformists their ( FCR) has 55 members. The AEKR has no candidate for President of the Commission set up, since in their opinion, the nomination of candidates by parties Europe lacked public and legal legitimacy. The preparation of the top candidates would mandate a federal principle, which is neither to be found in the treaties of the EU, is still wanted by the public of the Member States. The AEKR is mainly supported by the British Conservative Party, the Polish Law and Justice and the Czech Civic Democratic Party, and currently has neither German nor Austrian members.

European Democratic Party

The centrist European Democratic Party ( EDP) currently has seven representatives in the European Parliament. It is in a common fraction with the ALDE since 2004. The EDP has selected as the ALDE Guy Verhofstadt to their top candidates. From Germany are two politicians of the Free Voters individual members of the EDP, from Austria are no members in the EDP.

European Pirate Party

The European Pirate Party ( PPEU ) is currently represented by two seats in the European Parliament, who have the Greens / EFA connected. The PPEU the Swedish parliamentarian Europe Amelia Andersdotter and the co-founder of The Pirate Bay, Peter Sunde stood as candidates for the office of President. The German member of the Pirate Party Germany, Austrian member of the Pirate Party of Austria, which competes in different electoral alliance Europe.

European Alliance for Freedom

The right-wing populist European Alliance for Freedom (EAF ) is currently represented by five independent MEPs in the European Parliament. The parties to the EAF, the National Front, the Austrian Freedom Party, Vlams concern and Sweden Democrats have announced with other parties to form an alliance for the European elections. With the Dutch PVV cooperation already agreed. The collaboration with the Northern League is to be sealed on 15 April this purpose one is talking with four other partners. The EAF has declared elects not to Commission President candidates. The EAF has no German members.

Other parties

Forecasts

  • GUE / NGL: 56
  • S & D: 224
  • G / EFA: 36
  • F'los: 94
  • ALDE: 63
  • EPP: 212
  • ECR: 41
  • EFD: 25

Source: Scenari Politici, March 31, 2014

For the distribution of seats of the 751 seats after the next election are projections based on national surveys. They relate to the existing factions or groupings in the European Parliament. The table is to be noted that in particular is not yet clear for new An incoming parties and political associations, whether they will join a faction or remain non-attached. Therefore, they are run as non-attached ( f'los ).

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