Work

Unity in adversity: has the grand coalition survived fragmentation and COVID-19 in the 9th European Parliament?

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The article explores the impact of political fragmentation and the Covid-19 pandemic on coalition formation in the 9th term of the European Parliament (EP) from 2019 to 2024. Historically dominated by a grand coalition between the European People's Party (EPP) and the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), the EP has faced increased fragmentation with the decline of mainstream political groups. This article examines the impact of this fragmentation on the coalition patterns, focusing on the behaviour of the main political groups (EPP and S&D) and exploring the involvement of smaller groups. Using a new dataset of roll-call votes, it shows that the higher fragmentation led to more consensus in the EP and led the way to a super grand coalition. It also demonstrates a shift towards more left-wing coalitions compared to previous terms. Finally, it also highlights the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the coalition patterns in the EP.

Source: Journal of Legislative Studies

DOI: 10.1080/13572334.2024.2443875

Authors: Nathalie Brack, Awenig Marié, Olivier Costa

Institutions: Université Libre de Bruxelles, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, Centre de Recherches Politiques de Sciences Po

Language: English

Topic: European Union Policy and Governance

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: green

Funder: Université Libre de Bruxelles