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A8 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 11 May 2019

EU elections primer: How they work, what could happen

By LORNE COOK now appear set to create
Associated Press a new group with French
BRUSSELS (AP) — About 400 President Emmanuel Ma-
million Europeans from 28 cron’s centrist party.
countries will head to the As for the far-right and na-
polls May 23-26 to choose tionalists, the Europe of Na-
lawmakers to represent tions and Freedom group,
them at the European Par- which combines parties like
liament for the next five Italy’s League, Britain’s UKIP
years. Here’s a look at that and France’s far-right Na-
massive exercise in democ- tional Rally, is predicted to
racy, a multi-national ballot win 62 seats, compared to
by the European Union’s 37 currently.
only democratically elect- New parties such the Brexit
ed institution. Party in Britain are listed as
___ “other” in a mixed bunch
WHO, WHEN, WHAT ON THE that is forecast to expand
EU VOTE? from 21 seats to 62.
Europe’s voting marathon ___
kicks off on May 23 in the HOW WILL THE VOTE
Netherlands and in Britain CHANGE EUROPE?
— if, as seems likely, the Europe’s mainstream po-
U.K. is still an EU member European Union leaders pose for a group photo at an EU summit in Sibiu, Romania, Thursday, May litical groups appear set to
by then. Voters in Ireland 9, 2019. hold control over the as-
turn out the following day. Associated Press sembly but, depending on
Those in the Czech Repub- HOW IMPORTANT IS THE EU- U.K. Independence Party in employment, immigra- the results, they could be
lic, Latvia, Malta and Slo- ROPEAN PARLIAMENT? 2014 or the massive gains in tion, the environment and pressured into uncomfort-
vakia vote on May 25 and The assembly’s powers are France by Marine Le Pen’s climate change, terrorism able compromises or awk-
the remaining 21 EU nations slowly growing. It’s helped far-right National Front par- and promoting human ward alliances in order to
cast their ballots on May 26. to improve air flight safety ty, which has now rebrand- rights, democracy and so- pass EU legislation.
Voters in each EU nation in Europe, cut down plastics ed as the National Rally. cial welfare. Populist and nationalist par-
choose some of the 751 use, end mobile telephone The polls are often used by ___ ties have found rising sup-
lawmakers in the Europe- roaming charges within the disgruntled citizens to cast WHO’S LIKELY TO WIN port in national elections
an Parliament, which sits bloc, boost data privacy, protest votes against their WHAT? in many EU countries, but
in both Brussels and Stras- set climate change ambi- own national governments. The most recent projections their pan-European impact
bourg, France. (This num- tions and reduce carbon ___ from April 18 suggest that would depend on whether
ber would be reduced to dioxide emissions from cars. WHAT ARE THE ISSUES IN THE the center-right European they can form a strong po-
705 seats should Britain ap- The assembly also has a EU ELECTION? People’s Party will remain litical group in Brussels. That
prove its Brexit divorce deal say in treaties ranging from There are no “European the biggest bloc in the Eu- certainly is their goal. Italy’s
before the elections start). trade talks to Brexit. citizens” as such, so voters ropean Parliament with an hard-line interior minister,
Seats in the European Par- The EU’s powerful execu- tend to respond to national estimated 180 seats, drop- Matteo Salvini, head of
liament are doled out pro- tive arm, the European interests. ping from 217 seats in 2014. the League party, is trying
portionally based on a na- Commission, proposes laws How Europe handles mi- The center-left Social- to put together a populist
tion’s population. Cyprus, while EU lawmakers amend gration is a very significant ists and Democrats group group of national parties
Luxembourg and Malta and negotiate their con- concern for voters in Italy, is also expected to lose that he says aims to funda-
have the fewest seats with tent with national govern- Hungary, Poland and else- ground, sliding from 186 mentally shake up EU poli-
six each, while the EU’s ments, which are the real where. Economic concerns seats to 149. tics. Forming such a group
most populous member, font of European power often influence voters, and Among other mainstream is not easy — 25 lawmakers
Germany, has 96 seats. and are represented by Britain’s future in the EU parties, the liberal ALDE al- are required, with at least
The results from every na- the EU Council. looks like being a factor liance is expected to cap- one-quarter of the EU’s 28
tion will be released on Often, the big impact of again. ture 76 seats, eight more nations represented — but
May 26 after the last polling these EU elections is on the An EU survey of public senti- than in 2014, while the it’s important because it
station in the continent is domestic politics of individ- ment in April found that vot- Greens could rank fourth opens up valuable access
closed. ual EU nations, like support ers were most concerned with some 57 seats, up from to EU funds and political
___ in Britain for the anti-Europe about the economy, un- 52. However, the liberals influence.q
30 migrants arrive in Italy, minister sequesters aid ship

Associated Press Lampedusa. The migrants included
ROME (AP) — Italy’s interior minis- two pregnant women and a small
ter says an Italian-flagged migrant child. Interior Minister Matteo Sal-
rescue ship has been sequestered vini declared in a tweet that it was
after it brought 30 migrants to Italy the “last trip” for the ship, saying it
who had been rescued at sea. had been “blocked and seques-
The head of the Mediterranea Sav- tered.” Salvini, head of the right-
ing Humans group, Luca Casarini, wing League party, has declared
said he hadn’t received any noti- Italy’s ports closed to aid groups
fication that the Mare Jonio had that rescue migrants at sea. His
Rescued migrants desembark from the Mare Jonio rescue ship of the Italian
NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans as it docked at the port of the Italian island of been seized by authorities after its hard-line campaign has greatly re-
Lampedusa, southern Italy, Friday, May 10, 2019. 30 migrants came ashore Friday duced the number of people arriv-
Associated Press on the southern Italian island of ing in Italy this year.q