EU(TOP)-NOTCH ELECTION INSIDER

17.05.2024

EU asylum pact: 15 countries demand stricter migration rules

16.05.2024: Shortly after agreeing on a new asylum policy, 15 EU Member States called for further tightening. Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland and Romania demanded "new solutions" from the EU Commission to facilitate the return of migrants to third countries in order to "prevent irregular migration to Europe". (see page 2 Netherlands)

The 15 EU Members urged, among other things, additional mechanisms to "detect and intercept migrants on the high seas ... and bring them to a safe place in a partner country outside the EU". They also called for a reassessment of the concept of "safe third countries". The asylum pact currently stipulates that migrants can be sent to a "safe third country" at the EU's external borders in order to apply for asylum there. Prerequisite: The asylum seekers have a close connection to this third country, e.g. through relatives.

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After Fearne resignation: Malta needs new candidate for EU Commission

10.05.2024: Malta's Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne has resigned due to fraud charges. At the same time, Fearne withdrew his nomination for the next EU Commission. He was previously considered the favourite to succeed the current Cypriot Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides due to his many years of experience in health policy. The Maltese public prosecutor's office had previously filed charges on 08.05.2024 on suspicion of embezzlement and fraud: Chris Fearne, former head of government Joseph Muscat and other former top politicians are allegedly involved in a controversial 400 million euro project to privatise state hospitals.

In his letter of resignation, Fearne said he hoped that "the criminal proceedings will be concluded quickly, so that I can clear my name and be in a position to serve again to serve again if the country so desires". Prime Minister Robert Abela asked Fearne in a reply letter to reconsider his resignation. He said he had full confidence in his former deputy.

New Eurobarometer survey: young people highly politically engaged

13.05.2024: 64 per cent of EU citizens under the age of 30 want to vote in the European elections 2024. This is the result of the latest Eurobarometer survey conducted by the European Commission among 26,189 young people in the 27 Member States. For 38 per cent of respondents, their vote is the most effective way of making their voice heard. Only 19 per cent said they would not vote.

Young Europeans were particularly active on the issues of human rights (34 per cent), climate change and the environment (33), health and well-being (29) and equal rights (29). According to the survey, many young people continue to have a strong European perspective: more than 43 per cent have taken part in activities in another EU country - especially in the areas of study/training (16 per cent), volunteering (12) or work (12). 67 per cent believe that the EU has an influence on their daily lives, while 26 per cent deny this assumption.

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TV debate between the Spitzenkandidaten: dispute over participation

15.05.2024: Two parties in the European Parliament accuse the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) of deliberately excluding them from a planned TV debate ahead of the European elections. The right-wing Identity and Democracy (ID) party, which includes the French Rassemblement National, the Italian Lega and the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), criticised the EBU's decision, as did the regional party European Free Alliance (EFA), which is part of the Greens/EFA group in Parliament. The European Broadcasting Union defended itself: it had only invited parties to the TV debate planned for 23.05.2024 that had put forward an official lead candidate for the European elections. However, ID had not done so, while EFA, as part of the Greens/EFA group, would be represented by the Greens' lead candidate Terry Reintke. It has not yet been clarified whether the Conservatives and European Reformists (ECR) will be allowed to take part in the TV debate, although they have not nominated a lead candidate. ?The leaders of the ID described the exclusion from the debate as "unacceptable" and asked Parliament President Roberta Metsola to persuade the EBU to reverse its decision.

MEMBER STATES IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Germany: Searches at the offices of AfD leaders Krah and Bystron

On 07.05.2024, the German Federal Police received permission from the European Parliament to search the office of German MEP and top candidate of the AfD (ID) Maximilian Krah. Prior to this, the German Federal Public Prosecutor General had a close associate of Krah's arrested on 23.04.2024 on suspicion of spying for China.

On 16.05.2024, several offices of Peter Bystron, who is in second place on the AfD's European election list, were also searched. The Munich Public Prosecutor General's Office initiated an investigation against Bystron on suspicion of money laundering and bribery of elected officials after the Bundestag waived his immunity. Bystron is alleged to have received money from the pro-Russian propaganda network "Voice of Europe". Bystron denies all the allegations levelled against him.

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Lithuania: Incumbent Naus?da clearly ahead in presidential election

In the first round of the presidential elections in Lithuania, incumbent President Gitanas Naus?da received 46 per cent of the vote. His opponent, head of government Ingrida ?imonyt?, only received 16 per cent of the vote. Naus?da thus narrowly failed to win the first round of voting. He will now face ?imonyt?, who lost to Naus?da in her first candidacy in 2019, in the run-off election on 26.05.2024.

By the time the polling stations closed, more than 59 per cent of the almost 2.4 million eligible voters had cast their votes. According to the electoral commission, this is the highest turnout in the first round of the presidential election since 1997.

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Croatia: Plenkovi? joins forces with the far right to form a government

On 10.05.2024, the conservative HDZ party (EPP) of the current head of government Andrej Plenkovi? agreed to form a coalition with the right-wing Homeland Movement (DP, NI), which is close to the ID group in the European Parliament. According to the coalition agreement, the DP would receive three ministerial posts: the newly established Ministry of Demography, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The DP is also to appoint a deputy prime minister.

This alliance is the result of the election winner HDZ's failed attempts to form a government with the second-placed centre-left coalition led by the Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP, S&D). Andrej Plenkovi? has a total of 30 days (calculated from 10.05.2024) to find the required majority in parliament and finally form a government.

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Netherlands: New government formed

Six months after the parliamentary elections, four parties have agreed to form a government. On 15.05.2024, the PVV of election winner Geert Wilders concluded a coalition agreement with the VVD (Renew), the centrist NSC (EPP) and the farmers' protest party BBB (NI). It remains to be seen who will become prime minister. Wilders had already ruled out taking on this office weeks ago so as not to jeopardise the coalition negotiations.

So far, it is only certain that the new prime minister will be an external expert - i.e. not a member of the governing parties. Conservative Social Democrat Ronald Plasterk, who coordinated the rapprochement talks, is considered a possible candidate.

According to the coalition agreement, the new government wants to significantly tighten the Dutch migration policy: The aim is the "strictest asylum policy ever", with stricter border controls and tougher rules for asylum seekers. The government is also aiming for "an exit clause from the European asylum and migration policy". (see page 1)

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Spain: Sánchez wins in Catalonia

The Spanish Socialists won the most votes in the important regional elections in Catalonia on 12.05.2024. In contrast, the parties traditionally in favour of Catalonia's independence from Spain missed out on an absolute majority for the first time since 1980. Sánchez's strategy of protecting supporters of the separatist movement, such as Carles Puigdemont, from prosecution through his amnesty law thus paid off. Sánchez himself is dependent on the support of the separatist parties in the Spanish national parliament in Madrid.

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Slovakia: Outrage over assassination attempt on Fico

The attack on Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico (SMER, S&D—suspended) caused international consternation. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke on Platform X of a "cowardly attack" that had deeply shocked him: "Violence must have no place in European politics." US President Joe Biden also condemned the "terrible act of violence".

The Slovakian Prime Minister was seriously injured in an assassination attempt on 15.05.2024. After a government meeting, a lone gunman shot him five times at close range. Immediately after the attack, Fico was taken into his government limousine by security forces and driven to the nearest hospital. After an operation lasting several hours, the Prime Minister was stabilised and his life is no longer in danger.

Slovakian President Zuzana ?aputová described the assassination attempt as a blow to democracy. At the same time, she called on all those involved to show prudence. She announced that she would invite the leaders of all the country's major political parties to a joint meeting. The aim now is to reduce party-political tensions and unite the country.

The political situation in Slovakia is very tense. Fico is considered to be pro-Russian and is sharply criticised by the opposition for wanting to "bring public broadcasting into line".

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