The 2024 European Parliament election took place from June 6 to June 9, 2024. The results showed a mixed bag with no uniform trend across Europe. Key points include:
- **Right-wing gains**: Right-wing and far-right parties made significant gains, particularly in Germany, France, and Italy. In France, the far-right Rassemblement National won 31.3% of the vote, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to dissolve the French Parliament and call a snap election. In Germany, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) gained ground, pushing Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party into third place.
- **Centrist parties**: Despite losses, centrist parties are working to form a coalition to support a second term for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The European People’s Party (EPP) emerged as the largest single party with 186 seats.
- **Coalition formation**: No single bloc achieved an overall majority, leading to negotiations to form coalitions. The EPP, social democrats, and liberals are working together to form a majority.
- **Key issues**: The election highlighted shifts in priorities, with securing peace and social security becoming more prominent due to the Russian war against Ukraine and its economic impacts.
- **Ursula von der Leyen**: On July 18, 2024, Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected President of the European Commission in a secret ballot by the European Parliament.