Ireland heads to the polls to vote in local and European elections
Rory Carroll
Voters in Ireland are going to the polls in local and European elections that have been dominated by a housing shortage and a backlash against immigrants and refugees.
A record number of far-right candidates are on the ballot for local councils and the European parliament but it is unclear if many will get elected and join an expected far-right surge across Europe.
Parties from the ruling coalition have sought to neuter the threat by hardening rhetoric and measures against migrants and asylum seekers. The far-right has also dented its prospects with a proliferation of candidates that will split their vote.
Polling stations opened at 7am local time and will close at 10pm.
Ireland will send 14 MEPs to Europe, accounting for 2% of the 720-seat chamber. Voters will also fill 949 city and county council seats in 31 local government authorities and choose a mayor for Limerick.
With polls showing that almost two-thirds of voters want tougher controls on immigration, the centre-right government has reduced welfare support, expanded enforcement and removed encampments to deter fresh arrivals.
That appears to have helped stabilise support for the Greens and Fianna Fáil and to have bolstered Fine Gael, the third party in the coalition led by the taoiseach, Simon Harris.
Key events
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, got a standing ovation in the French parliament.
Zelenskiy addresses French parliament
As the European elections continue, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, is addressing the French national assembly.
Watch here:
In the Netherlands, exit polling showed that the top concern for voters was migration and asylum, followed by heath care.
Exit poll research also shows that three main concerns amongst voters in the elections were: 1. migration and asylum, 2. health care, 3. national economy. Democracy in the European Union ranks fourth pic.twitter.com/Vl77aeeeXn
— Prof. Sarah de Lange (@SLdeLange) June 7, 2024
‘Narrative of the rise of the far-right has been beaten,’ Green candidate says after Dutch exit poll
“The narrative of the rise of the far-right has been beaten in the Netherlands,” the Greens’ Bas Eickhout said.
“Of course it’s still tight, but we have won – a progressive coalition has won in the Netherlands. So really, this is a good example, and this is the message for the rest of Europe: Go out to vote! Go and vote for a strong and progressive Europe. We can do it, we can beat them,” he added.
🚨 Breaking: Exit polls in the Netherlands predict a victory for GroenLinks-PvdA in the EU elections.
💪 “The narrative of the rise of the far-right has been beaten. This is the message for the rest of Europe: Go out and vote!”, says lead candidate @BasEickhout. #ChooseCourage pic.twitter.com/fCGi5R3sYr
— European Greens (@europeangreens) June 7, 2024
‘So proud’: Wilders celebrates in the Netherlands
Far-right politician Geert Wilders has welcomed the exit poll results in the Netherlands.
“So proud of the results in the last year. We won the national elections half a year ago. We’ll join the Dutch government soon. And the PVV had the best result and biggest gains ever in the EU elections!” he wrote, thanking his voters.
So proud of the results in the last year. We won the national elections half a year ago. We’ll join the Dutch government soon. And the PVV had the best result and biggest gains ever in the EU elections! Thanks to millions of our voters for their support! ❤️#PVV #Wilders
— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) June 7, 2024
Dutch left takes narrow lead: exit poll
Dutch voters cast their ballots in the European election yesterday.
Broadcaster NOS has published an exit poll showing the Green-Left-Labour alliance with a narrow lead over the far-right Freedom party (PVV).
Geert Wilders’ PVV is projected to take 7 seats, compared to one seat in the last European election, according to the poll.
However, the exit poll has an error margin of about one seat.
Ireland heads to the polls to vote in local and European elections
Rory Carroll
Voters in Ireland are going to the polls in local and European elections that have been dominated by a housing shortage and a backlash against immigrants and refugees.
A record number of far-right candidates are on the ballot for local councils and the European parliament but it is unclear if many will get elected and join an expected far-right surge across Europe.
Parties from the ruling coalition have sought to neuter the threat by hardening rhetoric and measures against migrants and asylum seekers. The far-right has also dented its prospects with a proliferation of candidates that will split their vote.
Polling stations opened at 7am local time and will close at 10pm.
Ireland will send 14 MEPs to Europe, accounting for 2% of the 720-seat chamber. Voters will also fill 949 city and county council seats in 31 local government authorities and choose a mayor for Limerick.
With polls showing that almost two-thirds of voters want tougher controls on immigration, the centre-right government has reduced welfare support, expanded enforcement and removed encampments to deter fresh arrivals.
That appears to have helped stabilise support for the Greens and Fianna Fáil and to have bolstered Fine Gael, the third party in the coalition led by the taoiseach, Simon Harris.
Welcome to the blog
Good morning and welcome back to the European elections blog.
Voters will Ireland go to the polls today, and voters in the Czech Republic will be voting today and tomorrow.
We will be delving into the latest on the campaign trail and polling places.
Send tips and comments to [email protected].
