2012, a Swing Year?

Abstract

Six countries in the European Union renewed their parliament in 2012, four of which did so early, notably due to domestic political crisis. The left — and it is a first in six years — was the winner in these general elections. Indeed three Member States swung from right to left: Slovakia, France and Lithuania; in Romania the left/right coalition that has gov erned the country since May 2012 won the ballot. In Romania, the left/right coalition — in power since May 2012 — won the election on December 9^th. In the Netherlands, the Liberals formed a coalition government with the Labour Party (PvdA). Lastly, in Greece, the government formed by the right (ND which won the elections on June 17^th), the PASOK chose four of its ministers even though it decided not to take directly in government.