In what is being considered a condemnation of draconian EU climate policies, Green Parties across Europe suffered major defeats in the bloc of nations’ recent elections, which took place over the weekend. With results still trickling in, the far-left Greens/European Free Alliance are on track to win only 52 seats in the European Parliament, a loss of 18 seats should those results hold.
While the European People’s Party (EPP) headed by EU President Ursula von der Leyen easily won the most seats, right-leaning groups made significant gains, which many observers consider to be a backlash (or greenlash) against climate policies enacted in Europe.
Despite right-wing gains and Green losses, the political center appears to have won the night overall: “There remains a majority in the centre for a strong Europe and that is crucial for stability. In other words the centre is holding,” said von der Leyen.
Across the Continent, frustrated farmers have led a revolt against climate policies that threaten to put them out of business. Farm organizations in The Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy, Greece, and Spain in recent months have protested against climate policies, while protesters in Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria have protested grain imports from Ukraine.
In ultra-green Germany, where Greens govern as part of a coalition government, the Green Party suffered massive losses, with slightly less than 12 percent of the vote.
Similar losses were sustained in France and Austria, where French President Emmanuel Macron has called for snap elections in the wake of his allies’ defeat by members of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally. Austria’s Greens were damaged by a scandal involving Green candidate Lena Schilling, a 23-year-old climate activist who was accused of spreading “harmful” rumors in the party.
Still, despite the results, Green Party leaders were cautiously optimistic about the future.
“Across the European Union Greens and our partners campaigned to show that we have solutions to make a fair and green future possible. The losses in Germany and France are obviously a blow,” said Bas Eickhout, an MEP for The Netherlands and one of the Green Party’s lead candidates.
“The rise of the far-right in today’s elections is extremely concerning for all those who believe in a democratic European Union and in just and equal societies,” he added. “Given the multiple crises we face, we must not deny the problems ahead, but … work to find a way forward. The Greens/EFA Group will work to deliver for people, for businesses, and for farmers in the transition to sustainability.”
The weekend was not a total loss for the Greens, however. They managed to gain a seat in Denmark, and held on to their seats in Sweden. And in The Netherlands, the scene of some of the most vocal farmer protests, a Green-Left coalition looks to have won the day with a narrow win over a right-wing coalition.
Some are concerned that the election results mean a weakening of European support for the climate change-focused policies of the past few years.
“We are concerned, and we certainly will not allow, from our side, [for] that to happen. Which means [the] Green Deal cannot go back, but we are prepared to give it this additional twist, which is a Green Deal, but taking care of the transitions,” said Pedro Marques, a left-wing MEP from Portugal.
“Our economy, our small enterprises, our citizens, they are affected by the transition to this new green economy so let’s support them — but that does mean going back with the Green Deal,” he added.
However it shakes out, one thing is clear: The Greens in Europe will have less influence over climate policy in the EU.
