Journal Article

Punishment or Protest? Understanding European Parliament Elections

Hix, Simon, Marsh, Michael

2007

Overview

After six sets of European Parliament elections, do voters primarily use these elections to punish their national governments or to express their views on European issues? We answer this question by looking at all European elections (1979–2004) in all 25 EU states. We find that almost 40% of the volatility in party vote-shares in European elections compared to national elections is explained by the transfer of votes from large and governing parties to small and opposition parties. Nevertheless, anti-EU parties and green parties on average do better in European elections than in national elections. But these “European effects” are minor, and the position a party takes on Europe is largely irrelevant to its performance. Hence, despite the growing powers of the European Parliament, neither positions on matters regarding European integration, nor on matters regarding “normal” left-right policy, have much of an effect on electoral outcomes.

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press,Blackwell Publishing Inc,University of Chicago Press
• Subject: Accession / Central Government / Elections / Environmental policy / European integration / European Parliament / European Union / Extremist parties / Government / Green parties / Legislative Bodies / Legislatures / Modeling / National elections / Opposition parties / Parliaments / Political development / Political elections / Political opposition / Political Parties / Politics / Punishment / State elections / Voter behavior / Voting / Voting Behavior