BRUSSELS, June 9: Voters in 21 EU countries including France and Germany were casting their ballots on Sunday in an election for the European Parliament that is expected to shift the assembly to the right and boost the numbers of eurosceptic nationalists.
The election will shape how the European Union, a bloc of 450 million citizens, confronts challenges including a hostile Russia, increased industrial rivalry from China and the United States, climate change and immigration.
Voting began on Thursday in the Netherlands and in other countries on Friday and Saturday, but the bulk of EU votes will be cast on Sunday, with France, Germany, Poland and Spain opening the polls and Italy holding a second day of voting.
Casting her ballot, the leading candidate for Spains conservative Peoples Party Dolors Montserrat, said the election would "decide the future of Spain and the future of Europe".
The centre-right European Peoples Party (EPP) is set to remain the European Parliaments largest group, putting its candidate to head the European Commission, incumbent Ursula von der Leyen of Germany, in pole position for a second term.
However, she may need support from some right-wing nationalists, such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis Brothers of Italy, to secure a parliamentary majority, giving Meloni and allies more leverage.
Parliament as a whole will also vote and often amend a slew of legislation expected in the next five years. The shift right means it may be less enthusiastic on climate change policies and the reforms required for EU enlargement, while eager on measures to limit immigration. —REUTERS
