With recent European election in May pass, we can look back and kind of see what really happened in these couple of months on European political stage. Hyped by media as potential right-wing surge, we all impatiently expected the results of election for the European Parliament. In general, unlike to many expectations, European election pass with some interesting results, but without major turbulence for the European political scene. 

I would extract two things as interesting and important. First thing is the fact that for the first time the election saw an increase in turnout, and for the first time since 1994, the election saw turnout of over 50 per cent, with 50,6 per cent. Thus, this election saw not just bigger turnout compared with the previous one in 2014, but it’s the biggest turnout after 1994.

Second interesting thing is, unlike many expectations – and the narrative I feel  isn’t preset too often in media – is the thing that something which we could describe as broad progressive umbrella – with all differences between parties – won majority: left, centre-left, liberal and green parties. This is in contrast with expectations which saw strongly right wing parties storming the European Parliament. This would cause two main blocks, centre-left and centre-right coalitions, losing majority in the Parliament, with voters finding other pro-EU alternatives. In contrast with expectations, this election proved to be moderate pro-EU surge.

Strongly right-wing parties did rather poorly, considering expectations. They expected to win about one third of the seats, but instead, they ended pretty much where they were in the previous election, with some parties scoring good in some countries, primarily League party by Matteo Salvini in Italy. But this is rather isolated case. Brexit party by Nigel Farage did well, but this is more of tradition that UK is sending this man with some of his parties in European Parliament with solid support. Orban did well in Hungary, but this is nothing new so it can’t be called some kind of right-wing surge in Hungary, especially considering that Jobbik did quite bad. National Rally by Marine Le Pen take first place in France, but receive slightly less than in the previous election. Overall, strongly right-wing parties achieved solid result, but significantly below expectations. 

Left-wing parties outside of centre-left coalition deteriorated their position compared with the previous election. Being mostly populist movement proved once again is not enough. Sira Rego in her speech as a candidate for the President of the European Parliament just repeated the narrative we could already hear many times in recent years from “radical” faction. A basket of generic mumble-jumble without substance which could be applied in reality. The lack of dialog or exclusivity led that only members of the group voted for Sira Rego, which is rather sad. If left-wing outside of centre-left grouping want to avoid destiny of pirate parties, who dispersed because of lack of concrete platform, they need to change something.

All in all, election didn’t caused major turbulence. Distribution of top jobs wasn’t exciting, except some minor tensions between Macron and Merkel, showing the Spitzenkandidat system is broken. Centre-left and centre-right coalitions lost majority, but not against parties with which they can’t form majority, staying pillars of power. In the end, European election were interesting, bringing some very interesting results, but far from dramatic.