EU Parliament Elections

[Peter]

4 weeks today is the European Parliament Elections. Perhaps all Europeans would like to give some sort of explaination of the choices before them and the reasons for their likely vote.

[Peter]

My EU Region is SE England

Parties Running: UKIP, Green, Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat

I am a natural Wet Tory and therefore have inclinations to vote Conservative, however I am generally pro-European in the same vein as Ken Clarke.

I will not vote UKIP for obvious reasons; I will not vote Liberal Democrat because I find them to rabidly anti-Tory. That leaves me with three options, right now I am leaning towards Labour.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Well, according to the Wahlomat (www.wahlomat.de) the order of the grade of my identification with the European policies of the several political parties in Germany is as follows:

1. Greens
2. FDP
3. SPD
4. CDU
5. CSU
6. PDS

[lidaker]

Hm... I haven't decided yet, but I won't vote for either the Greens or the Left Party - in Sweden they oppose the EU. Probably the Swedish liberal party.

[freek]

I'm still in doubt. Normally I vote for the VVD (rightwing liberal) party in all the elections, but I tend to vote for the ChristenUnie/SGP-list (the christian fundamentalists) this time. Not for their views on abortion and euthanasia, because I totally don't agree with them on these points. The European Parliament doesn't have any authority on these points as well, if I am correctly informed.

I do however like their economic stances, they are not as freemarketfundamentalist on these points as the VVD, which I like. They don't want Turkey in the EU, as the only Dutch party, apart from the List Pim Fortuyn.

Other factors why I might be voting for them: I am impressed by the quality of their MPs, if you consider that those parties only score a few percent of the vote in general elections. However voting for them in general elections is out of the question for me, since they have separate lists then. The ChristenUnie is way too much leftwing for me, the SGP too fundamentalist. Their European program is a nice compromise between their views.

[English]

I reside in the 'Yorkshire & The Humber' region.
I will be voting for the Green Party for the following reasons...

1) A protest against Labour's Iraq policy (I would normally vote Labour)
2) Don't agree with the Tory stance on Europe (I am pro-europe)
3) Wouldn't vote Liberal Democrat as my local council was LD run and corrupt
4) Would never vote BNP as they're fascists.
5) Would never vote UKIP for obvious reaons.
 
That leaves the Greens.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I reside in the 'Yorkshire & The Humber' region.
I will be voting for the Green Party for the following reasons...

1) A protest against Labour's Iraq policy (I would normally vote Labour)
2) Don't agree with the Tory stance on Europe (I am pro-europe)
3) Wouldn't vote Liberal Democrat as my local council was LD run and corrupt
4) Would never vote BNP as they're fascists.
5) Would never vote UKIP for obvious reaons.
 
That leaves the Greens.

You're actually going to vote in the Euro elections? Along with 17% of the electorate...

[Peter]

With the turnout being as low as it is going to be, as Al says, there is a possibility of 17% according to the polls, is it possible that the BNP might get an MEP or maybe this Respect Party that is running Galloway in London?

Its a reasonable bet that UKIP and the Greens will do well, but maybe even smaller parties can break through, what about the SSP in Scotland as well?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

With the turnout being as low as it is going to be, as Al says, there is a possibility of 17% according to the polls, is it possible that the BNP might get an MEP or maybe this Respect Party that is running Galloway in London?

Its a reasonable bet that UKIP and the Greens will do well, but maybe even smaller parties can break through, what about the SSP in Scotland as well?

I don't think Galloway will become an MEP... "Respect" is in direct confrontation with the Greenies who were there first... the BNP has a chance in the North West apparently (see? This is why PR is both undemocratic and stupid)... but they have an even better chance of getting someone elected to the GLA... PR is a f***ing joke... there is no way those Nazi's would ever get close to winning a seat in the old FPTP elected GLC...
On the bright side it means they won't be as focused on local elections.

[Peter]

I don't think Galloway will become an MEP... "Respect" is in direct confrontation with the Greenies who were there first... the BNP has a chance in the North West apparently (see? This is why PR is both undemocratic and stupid)... but they have an even better chance of getting someone elected to the GLA... PR is a f***ing joke... there is no way those Nazi's would ever get close to winning a seat in the old FPTP elected GLC...
On the bright side it means they won't be as focused on local elections.

Whilst I certainly do not relish the prospect of having the BNP in any elected position, one can hardly blame the electoral system, when the turnout gets as low as its going to be, it is no surprise that you get some nutcase extremists elected; Don't they need to get a 5% quota before they can qualify for seats?

[Umengus]

In Belgium: socialist, green, Catholics (center) and liberals. I will vote socialist, as usual.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I don't think Galloway will become an MEP... "Respect" is in direct confrontation with the Greenies who were there first... the BNP has a chance in the North West apparently (see? This is why PR is both undemocratic and stupid)... but they have an even better chance of getting someone elected to the GLA... PR is a f***ing joke... there is no way those Nazi's would ever get close to winning a seat in the old FPTP elected GLC...
On the bright side it means they won't be as focused on local elections.

Whilst I certainly do not relish the prospect of having the BNP in any elected position, one can hardly blame the electoral system, when the turnout gets as low as its going to be, it is no surprise that you get some nutcase extremists elected; Don't they need to get a 5% quota before they can qualify for seats?

IIRC it's 5% for the GLA and 9% for an MEP in the NW region... the main problem with PR is that it only works will highish turnouts...
On the brightside the low turnout makes "Martin Bell MEP" more likely.

[andrewa]

In Italy: Governement area: Forza Italia (Berlusconi's party, center-right), Alleanza Nazionale (post fascist party), Lega Nord (North League, local party), UDC (center party allied with Berlusconi).
Opposition area: little Olive-tree coalition (with DS, center-left, Margherita center-left, SDI social-democrati), Italia dei Valori (party of jude Di Pietro, the hand cleaner), Green Party , Communist Party and many others (consumers party...)
I'm for United Nations in Iraq, and against the actual economic decline of my country.
If the little Olive tree will be over 35%, and Forza Italia will stay at 22%, the center-left can win 2006 politics elections.    

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

I translated the German test with Babelfish and actually came out with the answer I suspected - FDP!

1. FDP
2. CDU
3. Alliance 90/Greens
4. SPD
5. CSU
6. Party of Democratic Socialism

[minionofmidas]

Well, according to the Wahlomat (www.wahlomat.de) the order of the grade of my identification with the European policies of the several political parties in Germany is as follows:

1. Greens
2. FDP
3. SPD
4. CDU
5. CSU
6. PDS

That's odd.
I got
1 Greens
2 PDS
3 SPD
4 CDU
5 FDP
6 CSU
In 2002 I always got PDS ahead, but I voted Green anyways. And I will do so now, too.

[Gustaf]

Hm... I haven't decided yet, but I won't vote for either the Greens or the Left Party - in Sweden they oppose the EU. Probably the Swedish liberal party.

Argh!

At least vote for Bijan Fahimi in that case, he's a reasonable person...he has some EU-scepticism, but far from enough...

I would, if I could vote, probably vote for Junilistan, the June List. They're EU-critical, though not as much as I would like, and reasonable on the issues. The other parties are all either pro-EU (M, FP, C, KD and SAP) or just plain whackos (V, MP).

[Huckleberry Finn]

Well, according to the Wahlomat (www.wahlomat.de) the order of the grade of my identification with the European policies of the several political parties in Germany is as follows:

1. Greens
2. FDP
3. SPD
4. CDU
5. CSU
6. PDS

That's odd.
I got
1 Greens
2 PDS
3 SPD
4 CDU
5 FDP
6 CSU
In 2002 I always got PDS ahead, but I voted Green anyways. And I will do so now, too.

ARE YOU THAT LEFTIST?? PDS? WHY HELL?

*Loading his rifle*

I will vote conservatives (National Coalition Party) as always. Probably for one ultra libertarian chick who is very pro EU, pro NATO membership and pro USA. It's kind of protest vote I think. She is very hated by Left, about my age and already member of European Parliament.

[Peter]

It's a shame we don't have any Pro-Euro Conservatives in Britain else I would certainly vote for them; Ken Clarke and his merry men should do their pro-Euro thing like they did in 1999.

[Middle-aged Europe]

I translated the German test with Babelfish and actually came out with the answer I suspected - FDP!

1. FDP
2. CDU
3. Alliance 90/Greens
4. SPD
5. CSU
6. Party of Democratic Socialism

That´s a... um, interesting result... CDU on the 2nd place, but the CSU on the 5th, with Greens and SPD between them. Concluding from your results I would say you are some sort of libertarian with both conservative and ecologist leanings.

[Middle-aged Europe]

That's odd.
I got
1 Greens
2 PDS
3 SPD
4 CDU
5 FDP
6 CSU
In 2002 I always got PDS ahead, but I voted Green anyways. And I will do so now, too.

ARE YOU THAT LEFTIST?? PDS? WHY HELL?

*Loading his rifle*

My mother votes PDS.

[CO-OWL]

Well, according to the Wahlomat (www.wahlomat.de) the order of the grade of my identification with the European policies of the several political parties in Germany is as follows:

1. Greens
2. FDP
3. SPD
4. CDU
5. CSU
6. PDS

I got:
1. CDU
2. CSU
3. FDP
4. SPD
5. Greens
6. PDS
No surprise. I'll vote CDU as usual.

[Huckleberry Finn]

That's odd.
I got
1 Greens
2 PDS
3 SPD
4 CDU
5 FDP
6 CSU
In 2002 I always got PDS ahead, but I voted Green anyways. And I will do so now, too.

ARE YOU THAT LEFTIST?? PDS? WHY HELL?

*Loading his rifle*

My mother votes PDS.

*Puting the gun away*

Mothers are holy. But why does she vote for them?

[bullmoose88]

FDP      
CDU      
SPD      
CSU      
Alliance 90/Die the Green    
Party of Democratic Socialism

SPD number 3 (and actually in some agreement?)

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Hooray fellow FDP'er

[Middle-aged Europe]

*Puting the gun away*

Mothers are holy. But why does she vote for them?

Well... um... good question. She´s not here, otherwise I could ask her.

She´s not a communist, if you thought that. I think most PDS voters aren´t. Aside from being a pacifist (she usually voted for the Greens until 1999, when they backed the NATO intevention in the Kosovo) I suppose she votes for the PDS for the same reason most other PDS voters go for that particular political party: East Germans who are pissed off by the "West German-dominated" Federal republic because their home country (although they disagreed with its political elite) was "annexed" in 1990.

The PDS presents itself as party, which is pursuing "East German interests". Anyway, I think it has a lot to do with psychology. I do not pretend to fully understand it either. I was still a child when the wall came down and my political socialication took place mainly during the 1990ies after the re-unification. Well, sometimes I´m successful in persuading her to vote for SPD or the Greens.