Photo/Illutration French President Emmanuel Macron speaks through a screen about the dissolution of the French Parliament after the polls closed during the European Parliament elections, in Paris on June 9. (REUTERS)

With rules and regulations being trampled upon in parts of the world today, European integration has become all the more valuable because human rights, democracy and the rule of law are its main pillars.

It is the responsibility of the leaders of the European Union and its 27 member nations to humbly acknowledge the voters’ distrust shown in the European Parliament election and strive to govern in a manner that lives up to the ideal on which the EU was founded.

The 2024 European Parliament election was conducted from June 6 to 9.

Held every five years, the election provides the sole chance for citizens of EU member nations to pass judgment on EU policies and personnel matters by directly electing members of the EU legislative body.

The center-right European People’s Party Group gained seats to remain the largest bloc, while center-left and centrist liberal parties are projected to lose seats.

But overall, the three “pro-EU” blocs managed to maintain a majority, indicating that the basic policy of advancing European integration is here to stay for the time being.

However, the situation does not warrant optimism.

Rightist and right-wing forces, which are skeptical and critical of the EU, made significant advances.

Against the backdrop of a rapid influx of immigrants and refugees and the skyrocketing food and energy prices due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, parties that capitalized on xenophobia and put their nations’ own interests first gained substantial public support.

There also were large-scale protests by European farmers, whose burden has been increased by the EU’s environmental policy.

However, it is anti-elitism that underlies these developments that EU’s politicians and bureaucrats must scrutinize now.

Progressive policies that protect the rights of minorities and fight climate change are fine on their own.

But they will only backfire and arouse public resentment if they are pushed at the cost of downplaying the immediate concerns or needs of ordinary citizens.

Realistic efforts are urgently needed to shrink the perception gap between policy makers and the public at large.

And the downside of that gap has been manifested most clearly in France, where the rightist National Rally gained the most votes in the nation that holds 81 of the 720 seats in the European Parliament. 

In the wake of a massive loss for his ruling coalition, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a snap election for the French Parliament's lower house.

He appears to be banking on a resurgence of anti-rightist public opinion. But should the National Rally win the lower house election and a rightist premier come into office, that will definitely shake European solidarity.

Macron just needs to outgrow his top-down governing style. 

Should rightist and right-wing forces gain greater influence in the EU, that will likely bode ill for immigration and environmental policies and hold back support for Ukraine.

That said, however, the rightist and right-wing forces are not monolithic. For example, the administration of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is clearly committed to Ukrainian aid.

The possible influence of the rightist and right-wing forces on EU policies needs to be assessed thoroughly and objectively.

Prior to the European Parliament election, suspicions came to light in many countries of Russia disseminating fake information and donating funds to politicians.

If only to thwart Russia’s plot to divide Europe, the EU must strive harder to bolster democracy.

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 12

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