Presidential candidates, European federalism and Tony Giddens.

The 2014 European elections promise to be difficult for the EU. Opinion polls are predicting a surge in support for anti-EU parties of left and right. Furthermore, if past elections are a guide to the future, voter turnout will fall again. The European Parliament has failed to convince a majority of voters that it is an admirable or useful institution.

European Parliament elections may, for the first time, determine the choice of the president of the European Commission. Each of the main pan-European political groupings has chosen a designated candidate for that job. Many federalists hope and expect that the political party which gains the most votes will see its candidate anointed president.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: European Parliament: Election, May 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-parliament-election-may-2014/

ESO: Background information: The European Parliament’s election of the President of the European Commission http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-european-parliaments-election-of-the-president-of-the-european-commission/

ESO: Background information: Presidential Candidates, European Federalism and Charles Grant. http://www.europeansources.info/record/presidential-candidates-european-federalism-and-charles-grant/

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