Bishops of Europe reflect on the results of parliamentary elections

The bishops of the Commission of the Episcopal Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) have issued a statement in which they reflect on the results of the recent elections to the European Parliament.

The winner of the elections on June 9 was the European People’s Party and the results reflect a growth of the right in Europe and a general loss of leftist votes.

For the European bishops, who in the days before the elections They encouraged the citizens to exercise their right to vote, these elections have been “a great exercise of democracy.”

In your message, released on Monday, June 10They also recalled that more than 370 million citizens from 27 different countries have participated.

Along these lines, they highlighted that “a pro-European majority” remains in Parliament and that voters have expressed “their support for the European project and a strong desire for more Europe.” This, for the prelates, “is good news.”

However, they highlighted that participation in these elections is around 50%, a figure that “continues to be insufficient” and that indicates “a persistent disinterest and lack of commitment among the citizens of the European Union.”

This low involvement, “combined with the strong increase in nationalist and Eurosceptic parties, especially in the founding countries of the European Union, manifests a strong dissatisfaction with the EU’s performance.”

Finally, they state that the results of these elections “urge us all, especially the newly elected MEPs and future commissioners, to work to reduce the perceived gap between the European Union and its citizens.”

Furthermore, they reiterate the need to give Europeans “adequate responses to their real concerns.”

The result of these elections was commented also in particular by Mons. Antonie Hérouard, Vice President of COMECE and Archbishop of Dijon (France), who stated that the votes reflect “discontent against the governments in power in many countries.”

Likewise, he addressed politicians and reminded them that “they are at the service of all of Europe and not just defending particular interests.”

He also pointed out that “the result does not mean that we have to bow to the logic of a certain number of parties defined as extreme right or populist.”

He also expressed that “the dissatisfactions expressed in the elections must be taken into account in the exercise of the majority, which will arise through the election of the main leaders.”

The bishop emphasized that certain issues such as the protection of life, workers’ rights or support for the poorest countries must remain a priority in Europe and European values ​​”encouraged by the Church.”