Chapter 12 Answer guidance

Q5) How is it possible to account for the turnout in European elections?

See section 12.5

  • EP is best known institution (93 per cent of those polled have heard of it) and most trusted (37 per cent of those polled trust the EP).
  • Decline in popularity and legitimacy of MEPs
    • Possibly due to the challenge of building relationships with large constituencies
  • European elections may be seen as second-order national elections.
    • Therefore they are seen as less important than national elections and may be used by the electorate to register dissatisfaction with national governing party.
  • European election campaigns are organized by national political parties, not European political groups.
    • e.g. Candidate will seek re-election as a French Socialist not as a member of the S&D.
  • Political parties campaign on a national as opposed to European platform.
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