European Elections 2019

Political observers and pundits predict an increase of seats for eurosceptic parties, alongside likely gains for new pro-European parties, such as Macron’s La République En Marche!. The forum’s speakers will analyse the results asking: what can we say about the support for eurosceptic parties, and the votes for pro-European parties and newcomers? Moreover, like in 2014, European Party Families nominated lead candidates who campaigned across Europe. Did they make a difference with their campaigns this time? Will the European Council consider these candidates in their nomination for Commission President? And, what are the consequences of new majorities in the European Parliament for the election of the Commission President? Lastly, what do the election results mean for the EU’s future direction on important European issues, such as climate change and migration?

About the speakers

Ben Crum is Professor of Political Science at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He is also the co-dean for research in the board of the VU Faculty of Social Science. His research focusses on the way processes of internationalization – European integration in particular – affect established practices and understandings of democracy and solidarity.

Katjana Gattermann is assistant professor at the Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) within the Program Group ‘Political Communication and Journalism’. Her research interests comprise political communication and journalism, political behaviour, public opinion and legislative behaviour with a regional focus on the European Union. Her work feeds into debates about the legitimacy and accountability of politics.

Linda Bos is an Assistant Professor in Political Communication at the Amsterdam School of Communications Research (ASCoR). Linda is an expert in the broad field of populist political communication, studying the role of communication in the success of populist parties. Her broader research interests include electoral behaviour, election campaigns, media use, media effects, and political communication in general.

Gareth Davies is Professor of EU Law and Co-Director of VICES at the Vrije Universiteit. Before moving to the Netherlands he was a barrister in London. He researches and writes on EU constitutional and free movement law, and since the referendum in 2016 he has become a regular radio and occasional TV commentator on Brexit affairs.

Moderator: Lise Witteman