Today’s news / EU campaign plays on democracy fears
The spokesperson of the European Parliament, Jaume Duch Guillot, presented the European Parliament's campaign before the elections on June 6 to 9 on Monday. He rejects that the campaign unnecessarily plays on fear to get voters to vote (Archive photo). Photo: Alberto Ortega/Ritzau Scanpix

EU campaign plays on democracy fears

The EU Parliament is aiming to maximize voter turnout for the upcoming election on June 6-9 across 27 EU countries, with Denmark’s date on June 9. The campaign has been criticized by Danish People’s Party MEP, Anders Vistisen, for having political bias, inferring that a greater EU is positive and skepticism about an overarching EU is a threat. A TV ad highlights elderly individuals from various EU countries warning about the loss of democracy. Vistisen accuses the campaign of historical distortion, arguing that it wasn’t the EU, but national states like the UK, that restored French democracy after WWII. EU Parliament spokesperson Jaume Duch Guillot defends the campaign, stating it aims to strengthen democracy through active participation. Social Democrat top candidate Christel Schaldemose notes that while she would have focused on EU’s future decisions, the campaign is necessary given the current challenges to democracy.