Voting Underway For EU Parliament In 20 Countries

Tens of millions across the European Union (EU) voted Sunday in EU parliamentary elections, a massive exercise of democracy expected to shift the bloc to the right and redirect its future, Lorne Cook and Raf Casert reported for the Associated Press (AP).

The shift to far-right parties, albeit that they will still be the minority, could make it harder for Europe to pass legislation and could at times paralyze decision-making in the world's biggest trading bloc.

The war in Ukraine, migration, and the impact of climate policy on farmers are some of the issues weighing on voters' minds as they cast ballots to elect 720 members of the European Parliament.

The year will test even the most robust democracies.

Surveys suggest that mainstream and pro-European parties will retain their majority in parliament, but they will lose seats to hard-right parties like those led by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, Geert Wilders in the Netherlands, and Marine Le Pen in France.

This shift could make it harder for Europe to pass legislation and could at times paralyze decision-making in the world's biggest trading bloc. EU lawmakers have a say in issues from financial rules to climate and agriculture policy.

They approve the EU budget, which bankrolls priorities including infrastructure projects, farm subsidies, and aid delivered to Ukraine. They also hold a veto over the appointment of the powerful EU Commission, Sylvain Plazy and Geir Moulson also reported for AP.