The Battle Lines For The European Elections Are Drawn

Recently, the Dutch Parliament has discussed a citizens’ initiative that calls upon the legislators to stop the creeping transfer of national powers to Brussels and demands a referendum on major EU decisions such as the ones taken in the framework of tackling the euro crisis. While not all the traditional parties are in principle against a popular vote, they rejected holding a plebiscite now. The left wing populist political group, the Socialist Party (SP), however wholeheartedly supported the initiative. The PVV (Party of Freedom) of Geert Wilders went even a step further by insisting that a referendum on EU membership as such should be held as soon as possible.

• Primary Source

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

ESO: Background information: Le Pen launches plan to unite the far right http://www.europeansources.info/record/le-pen-launches-plan-to-unite-the-far-right/

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 11.02.14: A victory for Geert Wilders in the Netherlands’ European Parliament elections would not put Dutch EU membership at risk http://bit.ly/1lq4kSV

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