The European Green Party faces a strategic crossroads as members of Progressief Nederland vote on whether to join the Greens or the Socialist family ahead of a Sept. 25 ballot, according to reports from Amsterdam. If the newly merged Dutch party—born from GroenLinks and the Labour Party PvdA—chooses the Green affiliation, the political group could gain four members of the European Parliament, while a choice for the Socialists would cost them four seats in a parliament largely dominated by conservative and far-right forces.
Stakes for the European Green Party Amid Electoral Setbacks
The stakes are high for the European Green Party following a major electoral setback in 2024. According to data compiled by MEP Analytics and shared with The Parliament, the Greens’ share of contested roll call votes won fell from over 70% in 2021 to 49% in 2024 just before the elections, and currently hovers between 25% and 43% during the current mandate with 53 MEPs. Sophia Russack, a research fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies, noted that the Greens are currently a powerless group. Projections from poll aggregator Europe Elects indicate the group could lose another 13 members and fall to 40 MEPs if an election were held today.
Economic Anxiety and Climate Impacts Across Europe
The referendum arrives as Europe deals with the fallout from its hottest summer on record, which claimed at least 35,000 excess lives based on late-August data covering half the continent, and wiped about €180 billion off the economy. Ciarán Cuffe, former Irish MEP and co-chair of the European Green Party, stated that people across Europe are angry for both environmental and social reasons as inflation threatens purchasing power well into next year. Javier Carbonell Castañer, a policy officer at the European Policy Centre, explained that the cost-of-living crisis and climate impacts have fueled anti-establishment sentiment that green parties need to address.
Shift Toward Class-Based Politics and Anti-Establishment Narratives
Political scientists suggest the Greens could regain relevance by moving away from lifestyle politics and adopting a radical anti-establishment narrative targeting large corporations and the ultra-wealthy. Zach Polanski, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, has already shifted focus from decarbonization to inequality and unaffordable housing. Similarly, Austrian MEP Lena Schilling published a post distancing herself from lifestyle choices like travel and diet, stating that corporate profits are the real issue. However, Alberto Alemanno, professor of EU law at HEC Paris Business School, pointed out that deep internal fractures regarding free markets and anti-nuclear stances make a unified radical pivot difficult for the leadership.
Did you know?
The European Green Party was founded in 2004, uniting anti-nuclear, peace, ecology, and women’s rights grassroots movements under a common cause to slash carbon emissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Progressief Nederland referendum?
Members of Progressief Nederland, a party formed by the merger of GroenLinks and the Labour Party PvdA, are voting until Sept. 25 on whether to join the European Green Party or the Socialist family in the European Parliament.
How many MEPs do the Greens currently have?
The Greens currently have 53 MEPs during the ongoing mandate, down from their peak of 74 MEPs following the 2019 European elections.
What challenges do green parties face nationally?
According to Tobias Gerhard Schminke of Europe Elects, while German Greens maintain strong membership and 13-16% polling, their primary issue is a lack of strong coalition partners to help them win power.
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