Albania elections: neck-and-neck

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  Tories in EU: is David Cameron more conservative than your grandma?

  After abandoning the ranks of the European popular party, the British conservatives threw themselves into a hunt for new allies who share their growing euroscepticism and rejection of the Lisbon treaty. In Spain, they support a minority party of catholics and ultra nationalists called the ‘Alternativa Española’, compiling a neat lonely list of ‘friends’ in the whole of Europe. Their new 55-member party is called the ‘group of conservatives and reformist Europeans’

  by Alvaro Sanchez

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  EU election results: France, Holland poor socialist performance

  The EU elections between 4 and 7 June 2009 have revealed the high price of political opportunism in 2005, when they opposed the European constitution

  by Fernando Navarro Sordo

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  EU elections: why Europe has been loyal to the right

  Tepid, failed third-way socialism: with 267 out of 736 seats, the European people’s party (EPP) have won the elections for the third consecutive time in a row. Only the ruling socialist and liberal parties have felt a kinf of ‘punishment vote’ inspired by dealings of the crisis. The greens and the nationalists have taken advantage of the discontent engulfing European politics

  by Fernando Navarro Sordo

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  Sexy EU election candidates from France to Romania via Lithuania

  It’s European election time again. As per usual there are some ‘special’ candidates hoping to win a seat. In 2004, a French orchestra conductor, a British actor, a Czech cosmonaut and even a Lithuanian hockey player became MEPs. What does the 2009 edition have in store for us? Featuring Elena Basescu, Barbara Matera and Donala Meiželytė-Svilienė
  

  by Pierre-Anthony Canovas

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  Poul Nyrup Rasmussen wants Jose Manuel Durao Barroso out

  On 5 June the French daily Le Monde will publish a tribune written by the leader of the party of European socialists, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. It marks the first time that the Dane dares the incumbent EU commission president to not get a second mandate. Weekly newsbite
  

  by Fernando Navarro Sordo

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  Women on the verge of a political equality attack

  The only country that has more female than male representatives in the European parliament is the Netherlands. Estonia and Sweden follows behind with relative equality. Weekly news
  

  by Fernando Navarro Sordo

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  The Europe-shaped hole in the Polish campaign for June elections

  Obviously, this is not a country-specific phenomenon, but a pan-European one. What is not typical is the lack of any debate between the main political parties, even on domestic issues. The ruling party and the main opposition party seem to be focused exclusively on the names that supposedly ensure the highest possible score

  by Nabeelah Shabbir

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  What the fridge is the charter of fundamental rights really about?

  The founding treaties of the European communities focused on the original objective of economic integration and did not include any provision relating to the protection of human rights. The EU charter of fundamental rights arrived at the opportune moment to fill this gap

  by Eulalia Sanfrutos Cano

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  Turnout won’t be 45% at the European elections this time!

  We were sulky voters in 2004. It was the worst case in the history of the European parliament. Only 45% of Europeans made the effort, despite the fact that this assembly is the one making the decisions affecting our everyday life. Lame!

  by Adriano Farano , Fernando Navarro Sordo , Alexandre Heully

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  Only 30% of voters mobilised for European elections 2009

  With six months to go until the parliamentary elections, a meagre 30% of people surveyed were confident of going to vote between 4 and 7 June 2009. Europe needs to rediscover its passion for politics, or it risks losing it completely!

  by Fernando Navarro Sordo

Babelblog of the week

politics, society & political science