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European Parliament Elections 2024 - Friday, June 7th

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 21,368 ✭✭✭✭Bass Reeves


    The electrode fell for nothing. The hard right only makes up 1-3% of the population. They try to portray that they have more backing but its not.much above that.

    Mullooly and McNamara as well as Independent Ireland is not far right. They wast limits on immigration they do not want to deport them. A significant portion of tge population think like this. Few are racist like the far right. For instance Aontu got a significant vote from.older conservative voters on the strength of Peadar Tobin stance on abortion. That did not make these people socialists.

    TThe Vot Mullooly and McNamara got was a traditional soft left vote that moved between Labour and FF.

    Slava Ukrainii



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,893 ✭✭✭Brussels Sprout


    Getting absolutely pilloried in the replies

    image.png


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,133 ✭✭✭✭dulpit


    He's not wrong though. Being a true independent in Europe is pointless.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,267 ✭✭✭golfball37


    He should have said that from the outset though not after the event. He deserves the criticism as does any politician who lies to get elected



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭rock22


    It looks like this group has now reached the threshold for recognition as a political grouping in the EU Parliament.

    Given that Mr. Orban has attempted to 'represent' the EU , as President of Council of the European Union, in both Moscow and Azerbaijan he is surely intending to make maximum use of his new political grouping and of his elevation to President of the Council of the European union.

    Links here

    and here

    It is surely time for the member governments to curtail his actions? (He is after all their 'president'). So far reactions have come from the Borrell and Van der Leyen but I haven't heard any strong reaction from the any head of government.

    Could the member states depose him from his role, just skip Hungary in the rotation for the coming six months or would that be playing into his hands?

    The rise of the right in the EU probably needs its own thread



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,545 ✭✭✭fly_agaric


    (On Orbán/his visit to Putin etc…) Well Article 7 is there to use, EU Parliament voted on it, so it is with the other 26 member states to decide to pull the pin.

    It has not happened, so therefore they (collectively) accept the inevitable consequences playing out as Hungary works to undermine them and the EU.

    Orbán can (and will) push the envelope further every time he acts, because there have been no consequences at all.

    They probably should stay quiet about it now, and leave comments on Orbán's behaviour to the EU institutions if they have any decency.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,267 ✭✭✭golfball37


    more on the EU line to be holding Israel to account which they can under trade deal stipulations.. but no -talk to other murdering monster to see if we can get him to table takes precedence in outrage terms.
    EU is fast becoming a moral vacuum



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,253 ✭✭✭corkie


    Thanks @rock22 for the updates. Was waiting until it was reported he had enough national parties to break the news.

    Edit: - Sorry you have already reported that, thought we would have to wait till tomorrow for that news.

    https://www.politico.eu/article/orbans-patriots-for-europe-gains-enough-support-to-be-european-parliament-group/

    It will probably mean: - "it would it would leave ID without enough members to survive" ~ Source

    "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." ~ George Santayana
    "But that's balanced out by the fact that it's a mandate not to do very much." ~ Prof. Eoin O'Malley



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,520 ✭✭✭pureza


    I've a feeling Orban didnt end up in Kyiv and Moscow without Ursela's prior knowledge and blessing

    Everyones looking for a way out of this war via a save face solution for all imho



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 31,884 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    I've a feeling you are completely wrong and more or less everyone in the EU is livid. You really think Orban agreed to a secret plan where other leaders would all publically lambast him to help with their secret machinations?



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 28,367 ✭✭✭✭Peregrinus


    Orban's not in Kyiv or Moscow in his capacity as President of the Council of Ministers. But he is doing this to piss off the EU and other member states (which is clearly working) because he knows that this confusion will arise. I don't think his association with Patriots for Europe is particularly relevant here.

    (Plus, the President of the Council has no competence with regard to EU foreign policy - that's the business of the High Representative.)

    SFAIK there's no easy way to "skip" Hungary's turn in the presidency — the six-month rotations are provided for in the Treaties and it would require a Treaty amendment to alter that.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,893 ✭✭✭Brussels Sprout


    Yeah I'd say it is simply a case of Orban trolling the pro-Ukraine majority in the EU with this move.



  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 36,711 CMod ✭✭✭✭pixelburp


    Orbán doesn't seem an especially subtle or nuanced figure: hard to think of any action of his as anything more than naked toadying towards a benefactor and ideological ally. Always bares repeating that Orbán would be an outright autocrat if he could get away with it & is quite loud & prideful about his "illiberal" politics and legislation; Putin and he have much to share on that front, enough that pitching he as some bulwark against leftist/woke/globalist dominance has done him well so far.

    But as we have seen there is a growing anger and frustration towards him; it's also possible he's trying to flex a little muscle in light of recent protests and flagging support. I get the impression Orbán remains popular in rural areas while he's increasingly cutting a hated figure in urban centres (open to correction there). Heck for all we know he's just quietly organising his "retirement" to Moscow if said protests yield a change in leadership. Outside of Slovakia and a few non-EU states he has few friends.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,253 ✭✭✭corkie


    With 84 MEPs, the Patriots have surpassed both the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), which has 78 MEPs, and the liberal Renew Europe, with 76 MEPs, achieving Orbán’s initial goal of becoming the third force in the European Parliament. ~ https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/07/08/far-right-patriots-group-springs-to-third-force-in-european-parliament

    They have yet to update this chart!? https://results.elections.europa.eu/en/

    groups.PNG

    Did ECR lose some MEP's to this group?

    Renew don't seem to like been surpassed by this group?

    Post edited by corkie on

    "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." ~ George Santayana
    "But that's balanced out by the fact that it's a mandate not to do very much." ~ Prof. Eoin O'Malley



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,545 ✭✭✭fly_agaric


    Le Pen's party (RN) ended humming and hawing I think they were doing + joined Patriots for Putin Europe group.

    I suppose the paper mask can go back in the box for a while again now the French election is over.

    edit: May as well throw in a link: https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240708-france-s-national-rally-to-lead-new-right-wing-group-at-eu-parliament



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 28,367 ✭✭✭✭Peregrinus


    Missing from the chart helpfully posted by corkie is the Identity and Democracy Group, which appears to be disintegrating. There has been no announcement about this yet, but most of the recent accretions to Patriots for Putin were in the I&D group in the last parliament, so I think the latter group is probably defunct.

    So, effectively, PfE is looking a lot like I&D rebadged, and with Fidesz added in.

    The addition of Rassemblement Nationale to the group may be a mixed blessing for Fidesz. RN provides 30 of the group's 84 members; Fidesz comes a distant second with 10.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭rock22


    My understanding is that the ID group has now insufficient memebrs to continue. I think Estonia EKRA might be the only remaining member, but not too sure

    And yes, it is being reported that Bardella would lead the 'Patriot' group which might not suit other 'leaders' in the group.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,893 ✭✭✭Brussels Sprout


    From their wikipedia page they are described as ultra-nationalists and anti-Russian. That latter bit probably explains why they haven't signed up to that new grouping.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭rock22


    It shows that the far right are actually a quite disparate group.

    On a separate note, apparently the EU council can shorten the Hungary presidency in September. Hopefully they will do so.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,253 ✭✭✭corkie


    https://www.politico.eu/article/new-far-right-group-european-parliament-germany-afd/

    Europe of Sovereign Nations

    The alliance counts 25 MEPs among its ranks from eight countries.

    The alliance, which counts 25 MEPs among its ranks, is led by Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Poland’s Confederation, and is also comprised of MEPs from Bulgaria’s Revival, France’s Reconquête, Slovakia’s Republic Movement, Hungary’s Our Home Movement, Lithuania’s People and Justice Union, and the Czech Republic’s Freedom and Direct Democracy.

    Meanwhile backroom deals continue to try support Ursula von der Leyen as the next Commission president.

    the biggest group in the Parliament — the conservative European People’s Party — struck an informal deal with the ECR under which they will swap control of two of the committees allocated to them in the broader package.

    “Renew is outraged to see EPP preferring making dirty deals instead of sticking to our common lines,” a Renew official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to speak freely.

    The official said the group could even withdraw its support for the EPP’s Ursula von der Leyen as the next Commission president, and for Roberta Metsola as European Parliament president, due to the deal. ~ Source

    Sean Kelly tweeting again urging Irish MEP's to back her.

    Notice Renew increased members by another one, now at 77 compared to screenshot taken earlier in thread. I assumed the two Irish MEP's where already counted for, so who and where did the new member come from?

    "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." ~ George Santayana
    "But that's balanced out by the fact that it's a mandate not to do very much." ~ Prof. Eoin O'Malley



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭rock22


    @corkie "Meanwhile backroom deals continue to try support Ursula von der Leyen as the next Commission president.

    Sean Kelly tweeting again urging Irish MEP's to back her."

    Does that explain why, as the situation further deteriorates in Gaza, Micheál Martin has become completely silent?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,253 ✭✭✭corkie


    People following the news probably already aware that: -

    STRASBOURG — Roberta Metsola has been reelected as president of the European Parliament. ~ Link

    FF MEPs are still saying they won't support Ursula von der Leyen for president of commision.

    Secret Ballot!

    • Bad ~ because we won't know if they keep their word!
    • Good ~ People part of EPP can vote against her if they wish.

    On e-voting: -

    BKCapture.PNG

    Edit: -

    https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/07/16/two-far-right-groups-cordoned-off-from-power-roles-in-the-european-parliament

    A Patriots spokesperson slated the so-called cordon sanitaire designed to keep the far-right in check as “undemocratic” and an insult to “millions of European citizens that have the right to be heard.”

    "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." ~ George Santayana
    "But that's balanced out by the fact that it's a mandate not to do very much." ~ Prof. Eoin O'Malley



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 40,183 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    You have a right to be heard, that's what your seat in parliament is (if you use it intelligently, i.e. not like UKIP). What you don't have is a right to expect other people to support you for elected positions within that parliament.

    I'm partial to your abracadabra
    I'm raptured by the joy of it all



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 33,195 ✭✭✭✭blanch152


    I thought it was only Ireland who had politicians claiming they "won" the election without a majority.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,253 ✭✭✭corkie


    Ursula Von Der Leyen has been voted in as the President of the European Commission.

    MEPs voted by 401 votes to 284 in favour of her.

    "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." ~ George Santayana
    "But that's balanced out by the fact that it's a mandate not to do very much." ~ Prof. Eoin O'Malley



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 93 ✭✭agoodusername


    The only real alternative ever suggested if there were problems with VdL getting 361 votes was a 76 year old Mario Draghi. Only other names I saw were the Croatian and Greek PMs, which would've been more of the same I imagine.

    With the Greens being responsible for the vote passing (politico saying that only around 9 of their 53 MEPs were against) you'd have to imagine she'll be walking a tightrope to please both her own increasingly pro-farmer EPP and the shrinking environmentally focused contingent.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,893 ✭✭✭Brussels Sprout


    I was wondering…..If she now screws over the Greens there's not much they can do about it is there? I don't believe that there is a vote of confidence or anything like that possible to get her out.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,837 ✭✭✭✭Strazdas


    Yes, lots of gnashing of teeth that VdL was reelected (especially by the far right and far left), but in truth there didn't seem to be any other viable candidate, not one that could have fairly widespread support from across the Parliament. She was probably the only realistic candidate of the names mentioned.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,253 ✭✭✭corkie


    @agoodusername On all articles I read, there was NO plan B if she didn't get elected!?

    @Brussels Sprout

    European Union
    The European Parliament can dismiss the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, through a successful motion of no confidence, which requires a two-thirds vote. A successful vote on the motion leads to the resignation of the entire Commission. ~~ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_of_no_confidence#European_Union

    I was reporting the news earlier by posting on a Mobile device. So didn't get a chance to comment.

    A new 5 year mandate, does this mean she is unstoppable at introducing new regulations such as

    https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/von-der-leyen-promises-european-defence-shield-to-combat-foreign-interference-at-eu-level/ .

    Basically DSA on steroids! Or can she be reigned in with Parliment votes on issues?

    "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." ~ George Santayana
    "But that's balanced out by the fact that it's a mandate not to do very much." ~ Prof. Eoin O'Malley



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,893 ✭✭✭Brussels Sprout


    Ok so the only way to take her out is to take out the entire 28 member of the commission and it takes a 2/3 super majority. Interesting. Can't see that ever happening.



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