Last week, EU citizens cast their votes to elect Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) for the next five-year term. Many chose their preferred can

Surprising alignment of MEPs in the European Parliament

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2024-06-11 10:00:03

Last week, EU citizens cast their votes to elect Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) for the next five-year term. Many chose their preferred candidates or political parties based on their policies. However, once elected, some of these candidates often join political groupings that might surprise their voters.

The larger the number of MEPs in a political grouping, the more funding, speaking time, and influential positions the group is likely to receive. Although there are some unaffiliated Members, most seek to join a political group, driven by explicit demands for allowances and positions. This can lead to unexpected alliances, such as a pro-Moscow MEP aligning with the Greens, or a self-avowed socialist promising to join the right-wing ECR, if elected to the European Parliament.