Palgrave Handbook on the 2024 European Parliament Elections

“This Handbook is an authoritative and comprehensive examination of the 2024 European elections across all EU member states. Written by leading experts in the field, it offers unparalleled insights into the dynamics, challenges, and trends shaping electoral politics in 28 national contexts. With its rigorous analysis of national electoral dynamics, this Handbook is an indispensable resource for policymakers, journalists and scholars with an interest on party politics and politics tout court. A landmark contribution for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of democracy in Europe today and its implications for the European Union in times of growing dissensus.” —Ramona Coman, Professor in Political Science, Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium "This Handbook serves as an invaluable guide in understanding the intricate nature of the 2024 EU elections. Through the lens of each Member State, it delivers a much-needed, in-depth analysis of the election results while illuminating the political landscape and party dynamics at the national level. Additionally, it adeptly examines the present and future challenges of the Union, making it a compelling and essential read."  —Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi, Member of the European Parliament  This volume provides a comprehensive analysis of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament, the first to be held since Brexit, COVID, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It offers a clear, concise and timely appraisal of the key issues raised in the elections both at the EU level and in each of the Member States. Part 1 begins with an overview of how controversial holding elections to a supranational EU parliament was in1979, before exploring how the changing dynamics and challenges of political engagement in the EU were addressed in 2024 following the Conference on the Future of Europe. Strategies to mobilise voters, the role of supranational European parties and manifestos in 2024 are examined. Part 2 focuses on the elections in the twenty-seven Member States. Each chapter puts the elections of the state into context. The electoral rules, election campaigns, turnout and results, and the implications for domestic and EU level politics are outlined and evaluated. The book concludes with an assessment of what the results may indicate for democracy in the EU. Juliet Lodge is Professor Emerita at the University of Leeds, UK, and AI Ethics Lead for Saher(Europe)ÖU. A member of the privacy expert group of the Biometrics Institute, her EU research focuses on trustable AI, digital borders, accountability, and citizens. She has published widely on Euro elections and EU policy. In 1992 she was elected European Woman of Europe. Julie Smith is Professor of European Politics in the Department of Politics and International Studies, Cambridge University, and Fellow in Politics at Robinson College, Cambridge, UK.  Stergios Fotopoulos is Press and Communication Administrator at the Council of the EU. He has a Ph.D. in media and communication studies from the Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium.