European Parliament Elections 2019

breatheme

Next year's election, is, in my opinion a huge deal.

First off, they're the first elections with no UK MEPs (and a few countries getting a few extra seats). So the UK's absence is already a noticeable change and a visible consequence of Brexit.

Then we have the fact that far-right and nationalist parties are going to seize this opportunity to deal "the finishing blow" to the EU, so to speak. Depending on the number of seats they get, they may even be able to block legislation. This elections will also see Macron's En Marche! party in France and the Volt pan-European party, the first of its kind.

At the very least, if not a huge deal, very interesting. The last European Elections had the lowest turnout ever. Will this get better? Worse? How can we engage more people at the European level?

rogue-entity

Some helpful information on that here: https://www.thistimeimvoting.eu/

Can only hope that fascist parties don't get much headway in terms of MEPs, they're like a cancer.

breatheme

Thanks for that link, I'll make sure to spread it among my friends in Spain. I think a big issue here is that we don't get an MEP per constituency (like in Ireland) rather, it's as if Spain were a single constituency and all of its 59 seats are awarded proportionally. You vote for a party list here.

Personally I prefer the Irish system. It's impossible for an Independent to run in this system, and I also like having "my" MEP.

johnnyskeleton

I like the theory of pan European parties but its execution leaves a lot to be desired.

I looked at the Volt webpage and it's all very fluffy about creating a new progressive and dynamic Europe with a booming economy, "true equality" and reform of the EU. But it's unclear what the European Parliament can do about the economy (bar development grants etc, which is small in EU terms), equality is already enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and since Parliament don't have any binding powers in relation to treaty change, it's unclear what their role would be in relation to reform.

I suppose they are positioning themselves to exercise soft power by influence or perhaps as a statement to show that they are against the rise of the far right etc. That's laudible, but even still it's unclear what they actually stand for. In terms of EU reform, are they advocating for an Ever Closer Union or are they advocating that we maybe scale back the EU? This is a massive question that I'd like to see debated in earnest, but it's unclear what their position actually is.

So I like the idea of pan european parties. Specifically, I like the idea that the existing candidates would run under the banner of their European Parliament Grouping rather than their domestic party.

So we have:
Fine Gael - European People's Party - Conservative pro EU
Labour - Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats - Social Democratic pro EU
Fianna Fail - Alliance of Liberals and Democrats - Liberal Democratic pro EU
Greens - Greens - Greens pro EU
Sinn Feinn - GUE/NGL - Left euro sceptic (but not anti-EU)

Then the ones that we don't have any party support for
ECR - Centre Right Anti-European Union
EFDD - basically UKIP types Right Anti-European Union
EFD - the really hard right who are also Anti-European Union
ENF - are you starting to see the pattern?

Luckily, the reason why none of our parties endorse the latter four is that there isn't any real appetite for the hard right in Ireland. I think there are usually a few odd ball independents who run on an anti EU hard right platform, but Irish people don't really care for it.

So I'm not sure where Volt will fit in with all this. Perhaps to be the Centre Left Pro-EU party for those who do not wish to vote along established party lines.

The thing I never fully understood about the party alliances is that in Ireland Fine Gael would be more socially liberal that Fianna Fail, yet they are members of the more conservative grouping and Fianna Fail are members of the liberal grouping.

An Ciarraioch

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

I like the theory of pan European parties but its execution leaves a lot to be desired.

I looked at the Volt webpage and it's all very fluffy about creating a new progressive and dynamic Europe with a booming economy, "true equality" and reform of the EU. But it's unclear what the European Parliament can do about the economy (bar development grants etc, which is small in EU terms), equality is already enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and since Parliament don't have any binding powers in relation to treaty change, it's unclear what their role would be in relation to reform.

I suppose they are positioning themselves to exercise soft power by influence or perhaps as a statement to show that they are against the rise of the far right etc. That's laudible, but even still it's unclear what they actually stand for. In terms of EU reform, are they advocating for an Ever Closer Union or are they advocating that we maybe scale back the EU? This is a massive question that I'd like to see debated in earnest, but it's unclear what their position actually is.

So I like the idea of pan european parties. Specifically, I like the idea that the existing candidates would run under the banner of their European Parliament Grouping rather than their domestic party.

So we have:
Fine Gael - European People's Party - Conservative pro EU
Labour - Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats - Social Democratic pro EU
Fianna Fail - Alliance of Liberals and Democrats - Liberal Democratic pro EU
Greens - Greens - Greens pro EU
Sinn Feinn - GUE/NGL - Left euro sceptic (but not anti-EU)

Then the ones that we don't have any party support for
ECR - Centre Right Anti-European Union
EFDD - basically UKIP types Right Anti-European Union
EFD - the really hard right who are also Anti-European Union
ENF - are you starting to see the pattern?

Luckily, the reason why none of our parties endorse the latter four is that there isn't any real appetite for the hard right in Ireland. I think there are usually a few odd ball independents who run on an anti EU hard right platform, but Irish people don't really care for it.

So I'm not sure where Volt will fit in with all this. Perhaps to be the Centre Left Pro-EU party for those who do not wish to vote along established party lines.

The thing I never fully understood about the party alliances is that in Ireland Fine Gael would be more socially liberal that Fianna Fail, yet they are members of the more conservative grouping and Fianna Fail are members of the liberal grouping.

If Germany is any indication, centre-left voters appear to be defecting to the Greens - unlikely to happen in Ireland, where they largely move to SF, but could well happen in France, and in Spain they're already in an alliance with Podemos.

An Ciarraioch

breatheme wrote: »

Thanks for that link, I'll make sure to spread it among my friends in Spain. I think a big issue here is that we don't get an MEP per constituency (like in Ireland) rather, it's as if Spain were a single constituency and all of its 59 seats are awarded proportionally. You vote for a party list here.

Personally I prefer the Irish system. It's impossible for an Independent to run in this system, and I also like having "my" MEP.

The worrying thing about that is there is a new neo-Francoist party emerging there called Vox - they just need to get about 2%, and voila they have at least one MEP.

breatheme

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

I like the theory of pan European parties but its execution leaves a lot to be desired.

I looked at the Volt webpage and it's all very fluffy about creating a new progressive and dynamic Europe with a booming economy, "true equality" and reform of the EU. But it's unclear what the European Parliament can do about the economy (bar development grants etc, which is small in EU terms), equality is already enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and since Parliament don't have any binding powers in relation to treaty change, it's unclear what their role would be in relation to reform.

Agree, mostly. I keep meaning to check out local Volt events, but they keep being annoyingly inconvenient for me. I think for them the European Parliament is a stepping stone and not a means to an end, however.

So I like the idea of pan european parties. Specifically, I like the idea that the existing candidates would run under the banner of their European Parliament Grouping rather than their domestic party.

This would make much more sense, and if it could be actually fully implemented (e.g. completely scrapping the Domestic Parties) it would allow for more nuance for voters.

The thing I never fully understood about the party alliances is that in Ireland Fine Gael would be more socially liberal that Fianna Fail, yet they are members of the more conservative grouping and Fianna Fail are members of the liberal grouping.

Yeah if they were completely separate in the EU Parliament elections, then members of FF/FG/any other party could determine which EU party adjusts more to their policies/values, rather than fall in line with whatever arrangement their Home Party has.

An Ciarraioch wrote: »

If Germany is any indication, centre-left voters appear to be defecting to the Greens - unlikely to happen in Ireland, where they largely move to SF, but could well happen in France, and in Spain they're already in an alliance with Podemos.

If I were in Germany I may vote the Greens. I'm thinking of voting the Greens over here.

An Ciarraioch wrote: »

The worrying thing about that is there is a new neo-Francoist party emerging there called Vox - they just need to get about 2%, and voila they have at least one MEP.

Ugh don't even get me started. They're on the news here all the time. They were never a thing to worry about but of course, like in most of Europe, they now feel entitled to a platform.

An Ciarraioch

Europe Elects reports that Varoufakis plans to run for the European Parliament in Germany, for the local branch of his DiEM 25 pan-European party.

breatheme

Source:

https://twitter.com/EuropeElects/status/1064860596674404353

Is he even resident in Germany?

PopePalpatine

At this stage, all I know for certain is that Matt Carthy's not getting a vote from me this time around.

Faugheen

Is Matt Carthy even running? He’s on the SF ticket for Cavan-Monaghan in the GE I think.

VinLieger

Will be very interesting to see if crowley runs again as an independent, i think the media might finally pick up on his 0% voting record while still claiming his salary and expenses

FreudianSlippers

An Ciarraioch wrote: »

If Germany is any indication, centre-left voters appear to be defecting to the Greens - unlikely to happen in Ireland, where they largely move to SF, but could well happen in France, and in Spain they're already in an alliance with Podemos.

Funny enough I think the Greens could do better in collecting "protest" votes in EP elections than in national elections.

brickster69

An absolute car crash live interview with the PM on bbc radio now.

brickster69

It's over now..... literally

An Ciarraioch

VinLieger wrote: »

Will be very interesting to see if crowley runs again as an independent, i think the media might finally pick up on his 0% voting record while still claiming his salary and expenses

He's back in the FF fold now, but has said he will clarify his intentions shortly. Interesting developments on the left, where Mélenchon's party, Podemos and the Portuguese Left Bloc have split from Syriza, meaning SF will have to decide which grouping to side with after the elections.

VinLieger

An Ciarraioch wrote: »

He's back in the FF fold now, but has said he will clarify his intentions shortly. Interesting developments on the left, where Mélenchon's party, Podemos and the Portuguese Left Bloc have split from Syriza, meaning SF will have to decide which grouping to side with after the elections.

Sources for this? I cant see any statements from him or FF on the matter

Wanderer78

It ll be interesting to see how yanis varoufakis's diem25 gets on in this to

demfad

breatheme wrote: »

Thanks for that link, I'll make sure to spread it among my friends in Spain. I think a big issue here is that we don't get an MEP per constituency (like in Ireland) rather, it's as if Spain were a single constituency and all of its 59 seats are awarded proportionally. You vote for a party list here.

Personally I prefer the Irish system. It's impossible for an Independent to run in this system, and I also like having "my" MEP.

Is the party list Spanish parties or EU parties?

I think an easy fix to some of teh democratic deficit is for all EU candidates to run on their EU parties. That cuts out the middle man of the national party.

People can then ask directly about policies in the EP that a constituents represents. THis method would somehow alleviate the tendency to protest vote: The vote is not for the local Government its for the European Parlaiment.

breatheme

It's Spanish parties. I'd love to cut out the middleman.

demfad

A massive issue with the appearance of democratic deficit of the European Parliament elections is that candidates campaign for local parties (irrelevant) instead of European parties or groups (relevant).

honeybear

My dad got his annual Christmas card from B Crowley. It’s expensive looking. My dad is a FF supporter and wouldn’t know B Crowley really at all. I wonder how many he sends. As a MEP supposed to be representing me, I don’t feel he represents me.

L1011

That he's sending them suggests he's going to try again. If people vote him in they deserve it

View

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

I like the theory of pan European parties but its execution leaves a lot to be desired.

I looked at the Volt webpage and it's all very fluffy about creating a new progressive and dynamic Europe with a booming economy, "true equality" and reform of the EU. But it's unclear what the European Parliament can do about the economy (bar development grants etc, which is small in EU terms), equality is already enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and since Parliament don't have any binding powers in relation to treaty change, it's unclear what their role would be in relation to reform.

I suppose they are positioning themselves to exercise soft power by influence or perhaps as a statement to show that they are against the rise of the far right etc. That's laudible, but even still it's unclear what they actually stand for. In terms of EU reform, are they advocating for an Ever Closer Union or are they advocating that we maybe scale back the EU? This is a massive question that I'd like to see debated in earnest, but it's unclear what their position actually is.

So I like the idea of pan european parties. Specifically, I like the idea that the existing candidates would run under the banner of their European Parliament Grouping rather than their domestic party.

So we have:
Fine Gael - European People's Party - Conservative pro EU
Labour - Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats - Social Democratic pro EU
Fianna Fail - Alliance of Liberals and Democrats - Liberal Democratic pro EU
Greens - Greens - Greens pro EU
Sinn Feinn - GUE/NGL - Left euro sceptic (but not anti-EU)

Then the ones that we don't have any party support for
ECR - Centre Right Anti-European Union
EFDD - basically UKIP types Right Anti-European Union
EFD - the really hard right who are also Anti-European Union
ENF - are you starting to see the pattern?

Luckily, the reason why none of our parties endorse the latter four is that there isn't any real appetite for the hard right in Ireland. I think there are usually a few odd ball independents who run on an anti EU hard right platform, but Irish people don't really care for it.

So I'm not sure where Volt will fit in with all this. Perhaps to be the Centre Left Pro-EU party for those who do not wish to vote along established party lines.


The thing I never fully understood about the party alliances is that in Ireland Fine Gael would be more socially liberal that Fianna Fail, yet they are members of the more conservative grouping and Fianna Fail are members of the liberal grouping.

You need to go back to when we joined the ECs.

FG had been socially conservative but did have a liberalising wing. Likewise within the Christian Democrat parties that formed the EPP there were also divergent views with parties usually tending to be either more conservative or liberal depending on their origin. As such FG slotted in fairly well to the broad church of the EPP.

FF by way of contrast was much more nationalistic and opted to join the French Gaullists in the “Union of European Nations” which, as the name implies, placed the emphasis on the Nations, rather than on the Union. Eventually though French politics moved on and the Gaullists ended up as part of a larger French grouping, which opted to join the EPP. That left FF as political orphans. Still dominated at the time by the PD influence, they opted to join the Liberals. At the time, they were very much on the “Free Market” Liberal end of the spectrum rather than the Social Liberal end. It seemed like an awkward fit at first but since then FF has become more socially liberal and the more successful Liberal parties have tended to come from the economic liberal end of the spectrum rather than the socially liberal one.

badtoro

Faugheen wrote: »

Is Matt Carthy even running? He’s on the SF ticket for Cavan-Monaghan in the GE I think.

This is a really odd thing for me to say, given my voting history, but I hope he does run.

In this constituency, three out of four MEPs have been very supportive of my sector of farming, Harkin, Ming, and Carthy. The two more recent MEPs have displayed a considerable aptitude for soaking up information, retaining, and acting upon it.

I'll be casting three votes in that order should they all run.

johnnyskeleton

View wrote: »

You need to go back to when we joined the ECs.

FG had been socially conservative but did have a liberalising wing. Likewise within the Christian Democrat parties that formed the EPP there were also divergent views with parties usually tending to be either more conservative or liberal depending on their origin. As such FG slotted in fairly well to the broad church of the EPP.

FF by way of contrast was much more nationalistic and opted to join the French Gaullists in the “Union of European Nations” which, as the name implies, placed the emphasis on the Nations, rather than on the Union. Eventually though French politics moved on and the Gaullists ended up as part of a larger French grouping, which opted to join the EPP. That left FF as political orphans. Still dominated at the time by the PD influence, they opted to join the Liberals. At the time, they were very much on the “Free Market” Liberal end of the spectrum rather than the Social Liberal end. It seemed like an awkward fit at first but since then FF has become more socially liberal and the more successful Liberal parties have tended to come from the economic liberal end of the spectrum rather than the socially liberal one.

That's very interesting. I wasn't really aware of nuanced history of it. It's a very strange state of affairs that their connection to the groups is largely historical rather than ideological. I wonder if it's the same in other countries.

All the more reason I suppose that we should start thinking of our European candidates in terms of where they sit in the European Parliament Groupings rather than based on their domestic party allegiance!

VinLieger

honeybear wrote: »

As a MEP supposed to be representing me, I don’t feel he represents me.

Considering he has a 0% attendance record he represents nobody but his own wallet, the mans a disgrace and needs to be called out.

Annasopra

Faugheen wrote: »

Is Matt Carthy even running? He’s on the SF ticket for Cavan-Monaghan in the GE I think.

I assume he isnt. They may well run Martina Anderson

Annasopra

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

Funny enough I think the Greens could do better in collecting "protest" votes in EP elections than in national elections.

They used to get that - remember Patricia McKenna and Nuala Ahern

Annasopra

An Ciarraioch wrote: »

He's back in the FF fold now, but has said he will clarify his intentions shortly. Interesting developments on the left, where Mnchon's party, Podemos and the Portuguese Left Bloc have split from Syriza, meaning SF will have to decide which grouping to side with after the elections.

What? When did Crowley rejoin FF?

expectationlost

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

What? When did Crowley rejoin FF?

he never left. Hes just not in the Parliamentary Party. I don't why anyone would say he's back in the fold though.

expectationlost

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

So I like the idea of pan european parties. Specifically, I like the idea that the existing candidates would run under the banner of their European Parliament Grouping rather than their domestic party.

So we have:
Fine Gael - European People's Party
Labour - Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
Fianna Fail - Alliance of Liberals and Democrats
Greens - Greens
Sinn Feinn - GUE/NGL

so as you point out we already have pan European parties, what we lack is pan European issues debated in our European elections...

Beechwoodspark

Story in Irish times that Brian Crowley is to hold a press conference on thurs to discuss his future plans

FF say no way will he be rejoining them

Crowley has attended precisely zero parliament sessions over this term. Blames ill health.

If anyone votes for him they deserve what they get.

breatheme

If Brexit gets postponed, what should the EU do with the new seat distribution? Or the UK for that matter?

Can the UK agree to extend the withdrawal date and also agree to not hold elections (e.g. via a vote of Parliament stating that the UK won't contest those elections?)

Or the other alternative I see viable is that the UK gets its seats and the other countries used their numbers after redistribution. Once the UK formally leaves, those seats become vacant.

The third alternative is messy: holding the elections with the previous seat distribution, and once the UK formally leaves holding elections again for the vacant seats in the other countries.

L1011

It has already been suggested that they would run the elections to the previously announced 'new' seat count, then furlough the additional MEPs from the EU27 and reinstate them when (if) the UK leaves. This would be the last elected in Dublin and South basically. This would be vastly fairer from a proportional representation basis than running by-elections later on. Considering they don't even do by-elections normally (using subs lists) to preserve proportionality I doubt they'd want to bring them in.

Who those end up being is anybodies guess as there are so many retirements, new candidates, changes in transfer patterns etc even if the polling figures are actually strikingly similar to 2014. Can't see FF retaining close to the Crowley augmented figure in South, can't see Solidarity-PBP getting 15% between them in Dublin.

breatheme

That could work if there is a definite leaving date I guess. Otherwise those candidates might move on with their lives and enter other endeavours.

Also, is anyone thinking about volunteering with the #thistimeimvoting campaign? I just signed up today.

L1011

Tangential to this, I just got a market research survey which was clearly FF trying to test the appetite for their position on this, basically whether to run on actual European issues (which they have never done before) or revert to parish pump (as they and most of the rest always have).

Also whether tying themselves to En Marche, if they join ALDE, is a good idea or not.

breatheme wrote: »

That could work if there is a definite leaving date I guess. Otherwise those candidates might move on with their lives and enter other endeavours.

Also, is anyone thinking about volunteering with the #thistimeimvoting campaign? I just signed up today.

They'll have named subs lists when running, so even if they don't want it when un-furloughed someone else will get their seat.

I've never not voted in anything I was eligible for so that'd be a slightly disingenuous hashtag for me :pac:

An Ciarraioch

L1011 wrote: »

Tangential to this, I just got a market research survey which was clearly FF trying to test the appetite for their position on this, basically whether to run on actual European issues (which they have never done before) or revert to parish pump (as they and most of the rest always have).

Also whether tying themselves to En Marche, if they join ALDE, is a good idea or not.



They'll have named subs lists when running, so even if they don't want it when un-furloughed someone else will get their seat.

I've never not voted in anything I was eligible for so that'd be a slightly disingenuous hashtag for me :pac:

ALDE would seem the least problematic group for FF, given some of the unlikely bedfellows in either the EPP (Fidesz), or the ECR (Swedish Democrats, Law and Justice).

L1011

That was more about the potential of En Marche joining ALDE than FF, who never left it despite Crowley's alleged change of allegiance. En Marche have said they will but haven't actually done so yet.

The EPP would have been the most sensible, back when this was an issue originally, except FG got there first I believe?

is_that_so

breatheme wrote: »

If Brexit gets postponed, what should the EU do with the new seat distribution? Or the UK for that matter?

Can the UK agree to extend the withdrawal date and also agree to not hold elections (e.g. via a vote of Parliament stating that the UK won't contest those elections?)

Or the other alternative I see viable is that the UK gets its seats and the other countries used their numbers after redistribution. Once the UK formally leaves, those seats become vacant.

The third alternative is messy: holding the elections with the previous seat distribution, and once the UK formally leaves holding elections again for the vacant seats in the other countries.

The UK can go up to July 2nd without officially leaving, when the next parliament will sit for the first time, without any issue. If they extend beyond that they have to run the Euro elections in May.

L1011

So we now have a sizeable enough number of FG and FF TDs either selected, seeking selection or rumoured to be interested. Frances Fitzgerald, Brendan Smith, Billy Kelleher, Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy.

If any of these win, particularly the FG ones, they are effectively reliant on the by-elections being won by FF or FG - or else the confidence and supply agreement may not be sufficient to keep FG/IA in.

By-elections throw up odd results, particularly if there isn't a candidate-in-waiting from the party that has vacated; and even more so if there is an obvious candidate for someone else. Kathleen Lynch would take a substantial number of votes in Cork North Central for instance.

So as well as being rather more important for Europe than many previous elections, this one could cause a GE here within a few months also.

RainNeverBow

Have heard some politicans say that if any by-elections have to happen they'll just have a general election instead. Partly to do with what you had just said about.

Some politicans have even been saying an a ge on May 24th is still possible (which I think is crazy) but I think makes a by-election/general less so

L1011

Andrew Doyle selected for the third candidate in South, not Corcoran Kennedy. Dangerous constituency to risk a by election in too.

Being able to "blame" a GE on the election results would give cover to not being seen to break the confidence and supply deal; seeing as neither party want it anymore but the public don't want an election

blanch152

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/fine-gael-runs-former-sdlp-leader-mark-durkan-for-european-elections-in-dublin-37876506.html

Mark Durkan joins FG and runs in the European elections.

We will have some posters spluttering over this.

We have had the precedents of Austin Curries and Gerry Adams moving south to take Dail seats, but this will be interesting.

holidaysong

I take it he wasn't in favour of the partnership with FF then?

jm08

blanch152 wrote: »

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/fine-gael-runs-former-sdlp-leader-mark-durkan-for-european-elections-in-dublin-37876506.html

Mark Durkan joins FG and runs in the European elections.

We will have some posters spluttering over this.

We have had the precedents of Austin Curries and Gerry Adams moving south to take Dail seats, but this will be interesting.

Actually, a good move in the Brexit mayhem - depending on what happens, he could represent the NI or ROI, so there won't be a problem in having standby candidates.

An Ciarraioch

blanch152 wrote: »

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/fine-gael-runs-former-sdlp-leader-mark-durkan-for-european-elections-in-dublin-37876506.html

Mark Durkan joins FG and runs in the European elections.

We will have some posters spluttering over this.

We have had the precedents of Austin Curries and Gerry Adams moving south to take Dail seats, but this will be interesting.

And John Cushnahan from Alliance, also. Only for Matt Carthy returning to the fray, Martina Anderson would surely have declared in Midlands North-West.

ted1

blanch152 wrote: »

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/fine-gael-runs-former-sdlp-leader-mark-durkan-for-european-elections-in-dublin-37876506.html

Mark Durkan joins FG and runs in the European elections.

We will have some posters spluttering over this.

We have had the precedents of Austin Curries and Gerry Adams moving south to take Dail seats, but this will be interesting.

An odd choice , free to put fireward who they want. But I certainly would not be voting from him. I believe a candidate should be familiar with the area before he proposes to represent them

L1011

When I saw the news alert, which just had the surname, I thought the incumbent TD for Kildare North had decided to run, which would be rather odd!

blanch152

L1011 wrote: »

When I saw the news alert, which just had the surname, I thought the incumbent TD for Kildare North had decided to run, which would be rather odd!

I would guess that they are targetting one seat in Dublin - Frances Fitzgerald.

The advantage of Durkan is that he might pick up some curiousity votes, and if Fitzgerald has a surplus, it might take him in. Sort of a better class of a Cyprian Brady who gets a bit more.

murphaph

Please encourage all your family, friends and acquaintances to make sure they are on the electoral register and to VOTE for candidates that are not Euroskeptic. I have registered to vote in my current place here in Germany and we need to keep the AfD out of the Europarl. Those of you in the UK should, in the event of an A50 extension and voting, try to convince people to vote for anyone but UKIP and other anti-EU parties. It's the most important European elections in history I believe. There will be massive attempts at disinformation and targeted social media advertising right across the EU, paid for by you know who. As citizens of the EU we can reject these puppets of Putin.