As predicted in the polls for several months, the centrist-liberal Renew Europe group has lost a significant number of seats (-22) compared to the 2019-2024 legislature, but it could just manage to retain its third place in the European Parliament hemicycle, with 80 seats, according to the latest available projections (Monday 10 June 2.45 am).
“Tonight’s results show that no pro-European majority will be possible without Renew”, said MEP Iskra Mihaylova (Renew Europe, Bulgarian) during the election night of 9 June.
The French delegation within the Renew Europe group remains the most represented, but suffered heavy losses, since, according to the latest estimates, it will only have 13 seats compared to 23 in 2019-2024.
Above all, it is a setback for President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party.
The French President announced the dissolution of the French National Assembly and the holding of legislative elections on 30 June, after learning of the defeat of the Besoin d’Europe coalition (14.5%) by the far-right Rassemblement National party (31.5%), which won 30 seats in the European Parliament (see other news).
As votes are being counted within the Renew Europe group to retain this third position, the French delegation is expected to back down on its threat to oust the Dutch VVD party, which recently formed a coalition with the far-right PVV party in the Netherlands (see EUROPE 13426/2).
Although an exchange of views on the issue is due to take place on 10 June between the heads of delegation, no formal decision can be taken before the group’s constituent meeting on 26 June.
According to several sources, the ousting of the VVD is unlikely to be carried out, with the French delegation trying to keep a low profile following Mr Macron’s decision, which opens up the possibility of the Rassemblement National making a breakthrough in the newly-announced legislative elections.
But the aim is also not to lose the four seats won by the VVD, without which Renew’s total would fall to 79 seats, closer to the 71 seats of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group.
In Spain, too, the losses are significant, with the Group maintaining just one Spanish seat compared with nine previously.
The few victories were in Slovakia, with a majority of 27.8% of the national vote for the Progressive Slovakia party, and in the Czech Republic with 26.14% for Ano 2011.
To see the election results and the latest projections of the future European Parliament hemicycle: https://aeur.eu/f/cl2 (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)