Euphoria We Voted, and Now What? - S2 E1: The EU (POST) Elections Podcast
Oct 10, 2024
Arianna and Fede dive into the fallout from the recent European Parliament elections, revealing shifts in political dynamics and composition. Gender representation drops to concerning levels, with only 5% of members reflecting diverse backgrounds. They discuss the generational challenges younger candidates face, as well as the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen and upcoming commissioner hearings. The balance of power seems to be tilting, with far-right groups gaining traction. It’s a complex landscape setting the stage for exciting European policymaking!
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Hosts' Summer Catch-Up
- Arianna and Federico briefly share how their summers were: Arianna traveled to sunny places, Federico relaxed but felt uninspired.
- The hosts use this small personal catch-up to reintroduce the podcast after the break.
Parliament Turnover And Group Expansion
- The new European Parliament has 720 MEPs and expanded political groups from seven to eight this term.
- Around half of MEPs are new, signalling significant turnover and shifting parliamentary dynamics.
Gender Representation Has Regressed
- Women now make up 38.5% of MEPs, a 2.1 percentage point drop from the previous term and the first significant decline since 1979.
- The share of women fell in 15 member states, with alarming cases like Cyprus electing zero women again.