In Spain, the willingness to go to the polls grows by 15 points, with health as the main theme of the campaign
BRUSSELS, April 17 () –
The number of Europeans who show their interest in participating in the European elections from June 6 to 9 (Sunday the 9th in the case of Spain) has increased to 71 percent, an increase of ten points compared to the same survey in 2019 , as shown by the European Parliament's spring Eurobarometer.
The latest poll prior to the European elections indicates a growing interest in the elections with 53 percent of respondents declaring that it is “important” to participate in the vote, 6 points more than in the previous Eurobarometer from the end of 2023. While a 60 percent declare themselves interested in the European elections, 11 points more than before the 2019 elections.
The more turbulent international scenario, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip, is partly behind the increase in interest and intention to participate since 81 percent think that this context makes it more relevant take part in the June elections that will renew the 705 European parliamentarians.
By country, Spain is in the European average with 70 percent declaring themselves open to voting, this is almost 15 points more than in 2019, when 56 percent saw it likely to go to the polls, while the final participation was stood at 60 percent.
At the opposite extreme, in Bulgaria and Estonia the intention to participate drops and they are, with 50 and 52 percent, respectively, the Member States where the least citizens declare themselves inclined to vote in the European elections.
POVERTY, HEALTH AND DEFENSE, THE ISSUES OF THE ELECTIONS
Among the most relevant issues facing the European elections is the fight against poverty and the state of public health, although the issue of the Defense and Security of the bloc arises strongly, in the midst of the debate on building European military capabilities in the face of the threat that Russia will extend the war to Union territory.
In fact, it is the first time that the issue of Defense appears among the main priorities of Europeans and is the priority ahead of the elections in a handful of countries, such as Denmark, Finland, Germany or the Netherlands.
In the case of Spain, health is the main campaign issue for the Europeans, as in Ireland, Greece or Hungary. With migration and asylum as only the seventh most relevant issue, and only the main one in Malta or Cyprus. With respect to the last European elections, Spain is, along with Cyprus, France and Greece, the countries in which the most citizens consider that their living conditions have fallen.
Among other issues, the Eurobarometer also shows that Defense is the issue that needs to be strengthened the most at the European level, a majority opinion in 15 member states of the bloc with Lithuania and Finland at the head. Spain, for its part, sees energy independence and food security as the issue on which the EU should focus.
