Brussels (Brussels Morning) – Vlaams Belang and N-VA retain three MEP seats each, while MR gains one with Sophie Wilmès. Belgium’s political landscape shifts as EPP remains dominant in the European Parliament.
Vlaams Belang and N-VA have kept the three seats they both held in the current European Parliament, while MR has accumulated a seat with former Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès. MR succeeded more than 320,000 votes, boosting their delegate tally to three, with Olivier Chastel and Benoît Cassart also elected.
How Did Other Political Parties Fare in Belgium?
Levels on two MEP seats each are PS (S&D), Les Engagés (EPP), PTB-PVDA (The Left), Vooruit (S&D), and CD&V (EPP). PTB-PVDA already carried two seats in the current European Parliament, the other four groups have doubled their headcount from one.
Results indicate that there will be one seat for Open VLD (Renew Europe), Ecolo (Greens/EFA) and Groen (Greens/EFA). Open VLD and Ecolo have both lost one chair (taken by MR), while Groen held steady. Organised by European political party, the Belgian chairs in the next European parliament are as follows: EPP (4), Renew Europe (4), S&D (4), ECR (3), ID (3), The Left (2), Greens/EFA (2).
As the last polling boxes were locked in Italy at 23:00, a second seat projection was issued shortly afterwards for the composition of the next European Parliament. This time the forecast included the first interim results from 17 EU Member States. For other Member States, the seat prediction is still using national estimates, based on available exit polls, estimations or equivalent non-official data.
What Are the Predicted Seat Allocations in the EU Parliament?
The latest projection proves again that the European People’s Party (EPP) will remain the biggest party in the European Parliament, support for the Greens/EFA has weakened, and Europe’s far-right parties have seen a lift in backing (albeit not as significant a surge as some may have expected).
Of the 720 seats available, it is anticipated that the EPP will remain the largest party in the Parliament with 189 seats (26.25%), followed by the Socialists and Democrats with 135 seats (18.75%), and Renew Europe with 80 seats (11.11%), both keeping their positions as second and third largest political groups respectively.
How Did the Greens/EFA Group Perform in the Elections?
Europe’s two far-right parties have exceeded the Greens/EFA group in size, as the European Conservatives and Reformists Group are cast to take 72 seats (10.00%), while the Identity and Democracy group are projected to win 58 seats (8.06%).
Meanwhile, the Greens/EFA is expected to win 52 seats (7.22%), and The Left is cast to take 36 seats (5.00%). Among members not linked with a political group, it is projected that there will be 46 seats for re-elected constituents and 52 seats for new members. The European Parliament will continue to publish revised seat projections until around 1 am, as more polling data rolls in from Member States.
Speaking just after the second projection for the European Parliament was informed, current European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged the victory for her party. Von der Leyen is the lead contender for EPP as she vies for a second term despite not having run as an MEP.
