Brussels, Belgium - June 9, 2024 (FSN - No access Chinese mainland/Iran/Russia)
1. Vote for European Parliament election in progress
2. Various of European Commission President and European People's Party (EPP) lead candidate Ursula von der Leyen speaking during EPP election evening, press
3. Various of venue, attendees
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Tineke Strik, MEP, Green Party (starting with shot 3):
"Are they going to look at ECR or are they going to include the Greens? I really hope for the latter. Because only then we can preserve the democratic forces and strengthen Europe. And otherwise, we will be dependent on very unpredictable and undemocratic forces."
5. Various of von der Leyen during EPP election evening, posing for photos

FILE: Brussels, Belgium - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
6. European Union (EU) flags, Berlaymont building -- headquarters of European Commission

FILE: Brussels, Belgium - Dec 15, 2022 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
7. Various of EU flags

Right-wing groups are now holding a larger voice in the European Parliament (EP) after securing substantial gains in recent elections, diminishing the influence of centrist parties.

The bruising defeat of Marine Le Pen's National Rally prompted French President Emmanuel Macron to call for a snap election and the outcome has significant domestic and regional ramifications.

Addressing the importance of key issues such as defense, security, migration policy, and European values, Assita Kanko, a member of the European Parliament (MEP) and vice-chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, said that citizens expect solutions when they go to vote.

However, turning the increased presence into concrete policy changes will be a challenge they now face. The center-right European People's Party (EPP) remains the largest party in the European Parliament, but it now falls on the EPP to form alliances and establish a governing coalition.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, seeking a second term, expressed her confidence that the EPP group will provide stability in Parliament. She said that together with other parties, they will build a stronghold against extremism from both the left and the right.

Yet, the identity of these potential allies remains uncertain. The EPP's major centrist coalition partners from the past five years have weakened after Sunday's election, leaving the door open for parties across the political spectrum, including the right-leaning European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR).

Tineke Strik, a Dutch member of the Greens in the EP, expressed her hope that the coalition-building process would include the Greens.

"Are they going to look at ECR or are they going to include the Greens? I really hope for the latter. Because only then we can preserve the democratic forces and strengthen Europe. And otherwise, we will be dependent on very unpredictable and undemocratic forces," said Strik.