notes-45-fr.jpg

European Elections: the time for choice - the French case

13 May 2009
The European Parliament elections on 6th and 7th June 2009 appear to be a key moment for Europeans who want to influence how the EU is run by providing them with a chance to make both a civic, partisan and patriotic choice.
It is a civic choice since they will be able to appoint directly the representatives who enjoy major normative and budgetary powers and also control – these powers have been growing constantly for the last thirty years.
It is a partisan choice since it will lead to the appointment of representatives whose decisions are defined on ideological bases. The depth of difference is confirmed by a consultation of the party programmes running in the election in June.
Finally it is a national choice, because the elections on 6th and 7th June will comprise a decisive event in terms of France's influence on a community level.
By trying to decipher this triple choice and by using unique data this "Note" aims to inform about the European Parliament and to reveal the issues at stake in the next European Parliament elections.

This book is available in the following languages: