By Antonis Anzoletou

This year’s European elections in the old continent may be the most important. From 2019 so far a lot has happened. In addition to the pandemic that afflicted the world, the war in Ukraine and the economic and energy crisis was the event that changed all the plans of the Commission, but also of the governments of the EU member states. Tractors have not hit the streets only in Greece. They have taken over the national roads even in Switzerland and the “bells” they are ringing are many. Production costs have skyrocketed in Europe (fertilizers, fuel, labor wages) and competition with cheaper products from third countries in the primary sector is now very tough. Among many other things, Brussels is looking for a new agricultural strategy that may have been clouded by the green policies implemented at national and community level. European citizens have to deal with very high inflation throughout the Eurozone, a new war in the Middle East, and Qatargate will also come into the “scale” just before the polls.

The rise of far-right forces is another element that is being weighed very seriously. In the last tactic Summit meeting just before Christmas o Viktor Orban he did not say yes to providing aid to Ukraine. It is estimated that this will change on Thursday when the “27” will meet again. In any case, the two main groups have prepared their agenda for June. The most progressive – left-wing forces focus on the climate crisis, while the most right-wing forces prioritize immigration. And the majority in the second group are likely to expect Donald Trump’s return to power in about 10 months.

It is not only the European elections, but the many national elections that will take place in 2024 and will create a new landscape. The most critical ones will not be held on the old continent, but on the other side of the Atlantic. What will happen if Donald Trump returns to the White House? He will deal with Ukraine or the NATO; It will be his last term and many are already talking about the “revenge” he will want to take against his political opponents everywhere.

Last Sunday, presidential elections were held in Finland. Conservative former prime minister Alexander Stubb (Centre-Right) and former foreign minister Pekka Haavisto (Greens) will continue in the second round on February 11. The positive thing is that the nationalist speaker of the Parliament, Yossi Halla-Aho, finished third. It is clear that what dominates the political dialogue in the northern country is the tensions with Russia. In order, the polls that will be held in the coming months are: In Portugal on March 10, in the same month in Slovakia, in Lithuania on May 12 and in Belgium on June 9. The popular verdict will be sought in Croatia and Lithuania, while in Austria elections are scheduled for autumn and at the end of the year in Romania. Outside the E.U. the elections in Great Britain will be extremely important. Elections in Russia are scheduled for next March.