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[QuicheFontaine]

I abstained in the end too.

Spoiler

Alright alright, I just forgot I was going to be in Thailand/Malaysia and my postal vote didn't arrive before I left. But I was thinking of spoiling my ballot anyway

 

[Blablurn]

Voted!

Yay Democracy

 

[Eric_S]

Voted!

Yay Democracy

Good for you!

The commission may be elected by democratically elected governments. But getting a bit more of a say over the branch that proposes laws by influencing the vote of the head of the commission feels important to me.

 

[Zornica]

I think I made up my mind.

I want these hurtful austerity politics to end, and juncker nor merkel are going to stop them obviously.

There seems to be only one way, and I guess I'll bite the bullet this time, I hope it helps our brethren in the south.

 

[Onyar]

I will vote for the greens, for a different Europe and a better ecosystem.

Spoiler

So I will vote for the V chick :$

 

[McNum]

And done. Voted as well. It may just be one vote in a sea of millions, but at the very least, I can be grumpy about the EU without feeling like a hypocrite now. So, yay.

 

[Bri]

Which block does F! belong to anyway?

I'm not sure it's decided yet, but I think they have plans to join GUE/NGL.

 

[Blablurn]

Good for you!

The commission may be elected by democratically elected governments. But getting a bit more of a say over the branch that proposes laws by influencing the vote of the head of the commission feels important to me.

You can't have it all.

 

[Phoenician_Viking]

Just voted for the socialists and voted no to that the EU should make patent laws. Feels good man.

 

[QuicheFontaine]

And done. Voted as well. It may just be one vote in a sea of millions, but at the very least, I can be grumpy about the EU without feeling like a hypocrite now. So, yay.

I think if you disagree with the existence of the European Parliament, not voting in their elections is pretty much exactly what you should be doing. No hypocracy imo.

But yeah, if you just don't like who's representing you there you should probably vote. I have a similar "no vote, no grumble" policy with General Elections.

 

[michaelius]

Just wondering but what determines if we are breaking voting silence on multinational forum like this ?

 

[Forsete]

I think if you disagree with the existence of the European Parliament, not voting in their elections is pretty much exactly what you should be doing. No hypocracy imo.

But yeah, if you just don't like who's representing you there you should probably vote. I have a similar "no vote, no grumble" policy with General Elections.

Or vote for a anti-EU party if you want your country to exit. Not voting is not caring.

 

[QuicheFontaine]

Or vote for a anti-EU party if you want your country to exit. Not voting is not caring.

No. It's been said before in this thread that voting for an anti-EU party is ineffectual, because the MEPs you elect are unable to affect your country's relationship with the EU.

I guess voting in UKIP "sends a message"? But in reality it just wastes everyone's time and money since they don't (and can't) do anything.

 

[Deleted member 13876]

Is Belgium an exception or was virtually no media attention dedicated to these elections as opposed to the country's own elections in general?

 

[Kaworu]

Voted

 

[Forsete]

No. It's been said before in this thread that voting for an anti-EU party is ineffectual, because the MEPs you elect are unable to affect your country's relationship with the EU.

I guess voting in UKIP "sends a message"? But in reality it just wastes everyone's time and money since they don't (and can't) do anything.

I still think it is better to get the point across rather than to do nothing.

 

[Tugatrix]

Out of 2000 people registred in the boot I'm delegate 178 have voted, massive abstention incoming

 

[QuicheFontaine]

I still think it is better to get the point across rather than to do nothing.

Fair enough, but I disagree. Someone upthread said Slovakia had a 13% turnout for these. If that was the case in the UK I'm sure there would be real questions raised about our relationship with the EU (more than there are already).

 

[cartesian]

No. It's been said before in this thread that voting for an anti-EU party is ineffectual, because the MEPs you elect are unable to affect your country's relationship with the EU.

I guess voting in UKIP "sends a message"? But in reality it just wastes everyone's time and money since they don't (and can't) do anything.

And how is not voting at all any more "effectual"?

You say that voting for UKIP merely "sends a message", as if not even turning up to vote is somehow more a potent tactic. If anything, not voting at all only sends a vaguer, apathetic message.

You're moving the goal posts.

Spoiling your ballot at least shows you're actively protesting, tuned in and ready to vote for an alternative. Switching off completely is like turning a blind eye.

 

[Forsete]

Fair enough, but I disagree. Someone upthread said Slovenia had a 13% turnout for these. If that was the case in the UK I'm sure there would be real questions raised about our relationship with the EU (more than there are already).

Is that 13% due to apathy or anti-EUism? See, we dont know.
Turnout in Sweden seems to be a bit north of 50%. National election (2010) was 84,63 %.

 

[Zornica]

I still think it is better to get the point across rather than to do nothing.

To be honest, I'd rather have people do nothing than fuck everybody over by voting for a bunch of useless criminals. I wish there was an english analogue for "Bauernfänger", because that's exactly what they are.

Fair enough, but I disagree. Someone upthread said Slovenia had a 13% turnout for these. If that was the case in the UK I'm sure there would be real questions raised about our relationship with the EU (more than there are already).

slovakia

 

[QuicheFontaine]

And how is not voting at all any more "effectual"?

You say that voting for UKIP merely "sends a message", as if not even turning up to vote is somehow more a potent tactic. If anything, not voting at all only sends a vaguer, apathetic message.

You're moving the goal posts.

Spoiling your ballot at least shows you're actively protesting, tuned in and ready to vote for an alternative. Switching off completely is like turning a blind eye.

I...what? Goalposts? I don't know what you're on about.

And for the record, I intended to spoil my ballot, but ended up abstaining due to my own ineptitude and lack of preparedness. Forsete suggested that voting for an anti-EU party would be preferable, but I don't see how voting for a reprehensible anti-science, anti-gay party (UKIP) better conveys that I'd prefer Britain to be out of the EU. All they would do is doss around on the very gravy train they themselves bemoan.

Is that 13% due to apathy or anti-EUism? See, we dont know.
Turnout in Sweden seems to be a bit north of 50%. National election (2010) was 84,63 %.

Probably a combination. But I think one takeaway of those numbers is that they don't seem to reflect engagement by the general public of the European Parliament elections.

Edit:

slovakia

Ack! Sorry! I'll edit that.

 

[Sylver]

At 14:00h abstention in Spain reach 76,11%
Nice...
That Europe nobody here cares about.

 

[ComputerMKII]

And how is not voting at all any more "effectual"?

You say that voting for UKIP merely "sends a message", as if not even turning up to vote is somehow more a potent tactic. If anything, not voting at all only sends a vaguer, apathetic message.

You're moving the goal posts.

Spoiling your ballot at least shows you're actively protesting, tuned in and ready to vote for an alternative. Switching off completely is like turning a blind eye.

Abstaining is a different political act than spoiling your vote. Spoiling your vote means to agree with the institutions but not with the candidates. Not voting means not agreeing with the institutions.

I'm interested in politics and I think not voting is a good solution. 'Politics' in our democracies is a dirty, populist game with a touch of advertising. I don't want to take part in it and I'd rather help boosting the abstention scores than help reducing the FN's (or anyone else's).

 

[McNum]

I think if you disagree with the existence of the European Parliament, not voting in their elections is pretty much exactly what you should be doing. No hypocracy imo.

But yeah, if you just don't like who's representing you there you should probably vote. I have a similar "no vote, no grumble" policy with General Elections.

I like the EU in general, but there aren't many of the candidates that I like. Seems like Net Neutrality and consumer protection online aren't big issues for most of the candidates here, when that's sort of what I want the EU to crack down on and make sure the internet stays open, at least in the EU.

Denmark needs a to copy Sweden and get ourselves a Pirate Party, or similar.

 

[EmiPrime]

Less than 6 hours to go.

 

[Mr. RHC]

Abstaining is a different political act than spoiling your vote. Spoiling your vote means to agree with the institutions but not with the candidates. Not voting means not agreeing with the institutions.

I think this can only be an assumption. People also vote if they don't agree with the institutions to get rid of them. It can mean anything, whatever you decide to do, vote, don't vote etc.

 

[QuicheFontaine]

Abstaining is a different political act than spoiling your vote. Spoiling your vote means to agree with the institutions but not with the candidates. Not voting means not agreeing with the institutions.

Oh. Guess I unintentionally did the appropriate thing!

 

[CyclopsRock]

I think this can only be an assumption. People also vote if they don't agree with the institutions to get rid of them. It can mean anything, whatever you decide to do, vote, don't vote etc.

But either way it raises questions over the legitimacy of the mandate of the EUP, which is what those that wish to disengage want. On A 20% turnout, it's hard to defend the idea that people are happy about that body making laws.

 

[Bedameister]

So, first numbers from Germany are here

Pretty good result for social democrats. Liberal decline is continuing. Good result for EU-sceptics

These are only the german results

 

[ComputerMKII]

So, first numbers from Germany are here



Pretty good result for social democrats. Liberal decline is continuing. Good result for EU-sceptics

The EU has been a protectionist and social democrat project from its very origin and hasn't changed in the slightest since.

 

[sinxtanx]

Voted

Spoiler

green party

 

[kitch9]

I think I made up my mind.

I want these hurtful austerity politics to end, and juncker nor merkel are going to stop them obviously.

There seems to be only one way, and I guess I'll bite the bullet this time, I hope it helps our brethren in the south.

Yeah, lets just make our kids pay for it all.

 

[Chariot]

Fucking AfD, why do they still take 6,5% after months of bullshit and media coverage about that bullshit? This is a disgrace.

 

[Majine]

I voted! 'UROPE!

 

[Novak]

just voted....2 minutes before closing

it was close....i parked my car in right in front of the entry (and no parking sign ), put on 4 blinking turn signals ( or whatever is that called) and ran upstairs...

luckly no police or this would be my most expensive elections

 

[Bedameister]

just voted....2 minutes before closing

it was close....i parked my car in right in front of the entry (and no parking sign ), put on 4 blinking turn signals ( or whatever is that called) and ran upstairs...

luckly no police or this would be my most expensive elections

Europe's so proud of you :')

 

[Chariot]

just voted....2 minutes before closing

it was close....i parked my car in right in front of the entry (and no parking sign ), put on 4 blinking turn signals ( or whatever is that called) and ran upstairs...

luckly no police or this would be my most expensive elections

"You can't punish me, I was saving Europe!"

 

[ICKE]

Left wing coalition is gaining a lot of traction in the Finnish early results. The main message to take so far : Eurosceptics are getting blown the fuck up so a bit different when compared to other countries.

 

[Atruvius]

I voted for Olli Rehn a week ago. As the European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro I'm sure he knows his shit.

 

[Sickboy007]

Front National over 25% according to the first polls.

 

[ICKE]

Leader of the left alliance Arhinmäki just in national TV:

"While these results are good for us, the most notable message is coming from Netherlands where the far right party has received a serious blow. Hopefully we will see similar results across Europe and the far right is defeated"

Will be interesting to see what the dynamic is in different countries tonight.

 

[Forsete]

SweGAF SVT started its Valvaka.

http://www.svtplay.se/video/2056855/valvaka

Valu will be presented at 21:00. The results will be broadcasted at 23:00. Little Forsete might be at sleep by then. :/

 

[Bedameister]

Front National over 25% according to the first polls.

holy shit

 

[Ether_Snake]

I'm thinking outside of the UK and France, right-wings won't make much strides.

 

[ICKE]

Front National over 25% according to the first polls.

France makes me sad, such a great country but you never know what to expect politically speaking.

 

[Chariot]

I'm thinking outside of the UK and France, right-wings won't make much strides.

In germany the AfD got 6,5%. Doesen't sound much, but the party is only one year old.
Gotta post Frau Storch again. ([lazy URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eztAvf5xD2A"]Fukkireta version[/URL])

 

[SolidusDave]

Voted

Spoiler

green party

Same, I also asked the Wahl-O-Mat to check on the topics. It's just a bit frustrating that the highest overlap I have with any political party is just about 65%. But voting for the lesser evil etc.



btw Germany's voting turnout actually increased slightly to about 48% (from last time's 43%)
http://wahl.tagesschau.de/wahlen/2014-05-25-EP-DE/wahlmonitor/index.shtml

 

[Kuldar]

Front National over 25% according to the first polls.

My country sucks. :'(

 

[Sickboy007]

Germany's neo nazi party (NDP) might have an MP for the first time in history.