European Parliament Elections in Times of Crisis

Abstract

The economic and political crisis in Europe and the associated debates about the future of the Eurozone, the bailout of debtor states, the austerity measures imposed by the EU, ECB and IMF, and the economic consequences of it, all of this has made the process of European integration more salient to ordinary citizens than ever before. These developments have already been key in recent national elections in Greece and the Netherlands. They have the potential of transforming the 2014 elections of the members of the European Parliament from lacklustre affairs focussing on domestic politics, to salient electoral contests in which the future of Europe is debated. The 2014 elections may represent a key moment in the history of European Parliament elections, a moment in which the focus of electoral competition will shift from national politics to EU politics. They also have the potential to reshape party competition in the European Union and its member states. Upon this background, the aim of the panel is to assess how current socio-political circumstances have affected the second-order nature of EP elections. In addition to this grand scenario, variations in the electoral system applied will also be looked at as a relevant context.