Here we go: polls open in the UK and the Netherlands

This time is different (maybe). Polls opened earlier today in the United Kingdom and in the Netherlands, where electors are the first to vote in this parliamentary elections. They will vote for the 8^th European Parliament term, and tomorrow it will be time for Ireland and Czech Republic to open the polls. Then, Malta, Latvia and Slovakia on Saturday, and on Sunday all the remaining Member States – Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Hungary and Italy, which will be the last to close the voting process at 11 pm.

This is the traditional pace of the elections, given that usual voting days for each countries were respected, just getting them all together in the same week. Theoretically, no result should be leaked before Sunday at 11 pm, when all the polls will be closed, in order not to influence the votes of other electors. Yet, rumours about the possibility of some leaks on Thursday are already doing the rounds in the UK, with the clear target of trying to manipulate other Member States’ votes. For sure it will be difficult to keep everything under control, at least dealing with exit polls – something had been leaked all the times.

On Sunday at 11pm then, European politics will be looking at Brussels only, where a supposedly super-efficient structure at the European Parliament will start spreading consolidated exit polls (that is, general surveys for the 28 Member States) in order to indicate as soon as possible the assigned seats among the parties. The structure will be working overnight, until journalist will start falling asleep…

On May 27 then, the leaders of the European Parliament will meet in order to decide how to manage the debate – which they already know will be very tough – with the European Council concerning the appointment of the European Commission President. The main political parties, in fact, indicated a candidate each, and want the President to be chosen among them. The Council will meet at dinner, and the issue on the table will be the same. Still, this step is regulated by European Treaties, which established that Heads of States or Governments shall take into account the electoral outcome, and discuss the matter appropriately, before indicating a name. Should things get well, the Parliament could vote the next European Commission President in July – yet this is not such a probable hypothesis, with September seen as the most likely period. The European Parliament will vote its leaders during its first session, on July 1^st – 3^rd.