Resources are scarce, especially human capital. Despite initiatives like the “Spitzenkandidat” system, European politics are failing to engage with the voters in a way that would gain similar engagement and traction as local elections. Often perceived as distant due to the intricate decision-making in Brussels and the Council’s dominant role, European Parliament (EP) elections generally record the lowest voter turnout in EU member states.
This piece examines whether holding EP and local elections simultaneously could reshape voter engagement and tries to find what opportunities exist for parties to take advantage in these scenarios.
Belgium: the heart of Europe’s electoral complexity
Belgium, the centre of the beating heart of the EU, offers a unique multi-tier voting system where voters cast ballots for regional, federal and European levels on June 9th. Despite the complexity of its political framework, Belgians have the chance to cast “all their votes” and decide on the seats in the federal parliament, including the prime minister, and the general direction of their country, as well as the regional ones, that bring local issues much closer to them as well. Add to all of that the European level, and you get yourself a multilayered political maze that many voters will not be able to differentiate and decide for on each level.
However, for Belgians, it is not optional – at least by the law. As one of the few countries around the world that officially has compulsory voting (such as Australia or Mexico), Belgians (and registered EU citizens) are legally obliged to cast their vote in the elections – bringing about an astonishing 90 percent average voter turnout. But what issues do Belgian voters have on their minds at the moment? Not surprisingly, migration and the cost of living seem to be the two prominent issues at hand. With the first being more on the mind of the Flemish side of the country, and leaning towards more the far-right parties, the latter being more apparent in Wallonia and Brussels – hoping for a solution in higher numbers from the far-left coalition.
Nonetheless, based on extensive research done in 2019, “European issues” don’t play a decisive role in the Belgian elections when the public makes their decision. But, migration and the cost of living can quite easily be interpreted as European issues, as we’ll see in other examples.
Ireland: a positive outlook on European integration
Local elections in Ireland will be held on the same day as the EP ones. This will mean that voters will have the chance to cast their votes to select their (now) 14 EP representatives, as well as their local councils, which then will elect their mayors (except for one direct mayoral election – the first of its kind in Ireland). Ireland has generally been an optimistic supporter of the European project, with 83 percent saying they feel optimistic about its future – the highest ranking among all member states. Unlike other European countries, Irish public opinion on immigration is generally favourable, viewing it as a boost to the economy rather than a burden. This positive stance influences how immigration policies are debated and shaped, focusing on systemic improvements rather than restrictions.
The cost of living, particularly the housing crisis, is a lot similar to how it is elsewhere in Europe. This means that even though these discussions and debates do occur in other countries as well, voters don’t expect solutions on the European level. So, Irish voters usually cast their votes based more on what they expect from their local leaders rather than European ones.
Hungary: strategic election timing and its implications
The third country on our list and our focus is Hungary where for the first time local elections will take place at the same time as European Parliament ones. In Hungary’s case, though, this has a bit of a different reason: the ruling government decided to put the elections on the same day as the EP one to gain further political advantage over its opposition. This is down to the fact that EP elections are held based on a simple proportional representation system (as everywhere else in the EU), whereas municipal ones are based on a majority-based one. So while one requires the parties to run separately, the other would require a united front to maximise their potential success. This also creates an odd situation where the new local leaders will only be able to take office in November after their predecessors’ original time runs out.
Nonetheless, Hungarian voters’ main issues are similar to the rest of Europe. The cost-of-living crisis hit the country especially hard with inflation topping at 17.6 percent last year, and immigration remains a heated topic. This is due to the fact that although the current Fidesz government is extremely ant-immigrant in its rhetoric, it has recently implemented new laws that make it easier for low-skilled workers to enter the country, mostly to work at the (also contentious) newly built battery factories.
Strategic opportunities and electoral dynamics
So, what opportunities lie for parties in a setup like this? I would argue that it presents more pros than cons. Resources are scarce, so if your party members have the chance to optimise their effectiveness and be more efficient by running two campaigns at once, this benefits your party when managing scarce financial and human resources. Furthermore, as European issues are called out for being “too far from the general public”, having local elections at the same time creates a connection through which your party can show how multinational policies can have local effects and vice versa.
Bridging local and European concerns
The juxtaposition of EP elections with local elections, as observed in Belgium, Ireland, and Hungary, highlights the complex interplay between local concerns and broader European issues. This dual electoral approach challenges political actors to balance local responsiveness with broader European commitments. Ultimately, the intersection of local and EP elections serves as a microcosm of the broader challenge facing European politics: reconciling the demands of local democracy with the needs of supranational governance.