Abstract
Ever since the first popular election of the European Parliament (EP) in 1979,
voters are presented with two channels to legitimize decision-making within
the European Union (EU). In national elections voters authorize and hold
accountable their national representatives, who represent their interests in the
European Council. Through EP elections voters elect and hold accountable
their European representatives. These two electoral channels constitute a
system of dual legitimation of EU policy-making. This study examines the
extent to which voters actually use both of these channels in order to express
their attitudes regarding European integration and hold European or national
political elites accountable. Utilizing European Election Survey data from
2009, we show that in a majority of EU member states the process of dual
legitimation is indeed functioning in practice. Importantly, the empirical
findings demonstrate that when voters translate their attitudes regarding
European integration in vote choice, they do so in both channels. In some
countries, however, like Bulgaria or France, issue voting based on EU
preferences is absent from both channels. Only in two countries, the Czech
Republic and Malta, we find that voters only express their EU attitudes in one
of the electoral channels present. Overall, these results indicate that with a few
exceptions the voters behave in accordance to the system of dual legitimation
of EU policy-making in most EU member states. Hence, this study has
important implications for our understanding of how issues regarding
European integration affect electoral politics, as well as for the ongoing debate
regarding legitimacy and accountability in EU politics.
voters are presented with two channels to legitimize decision-making within
the European Union (EU). In national elections voters authorize and hold
accountable their national representatives, who represent their interests in the
European Council. Through EP elections voters elect and hold accountable
their European representatives. These two electoral channels constitute a
system of dual legitimation of EU policy-making. This study examines the
extent to which voters actually use both of these channels in order to express
their attitudes regarding European integration and hold European or national
political elites accountable. Utilizing European Election Survey data from
2009, we show that in a majority of EU member states the process of dual
legitimation is indeed functioning in practice. Importantly, the empirical
findings demonstrate that when voters translate their attitudes regarding
European integration in vote choice, they do so in both channels. In some
countries, however, like Bulgaria or France, issue voting based on EU
preferences is absent from both channels. Only in two countries, the Czech
Republic and Malta, we find that voters only express their EU attitudes in one
of the electoral channels present. Overall, these results indicate that with a few
exceptions the voters behave in accordance to the system of dual legitimation
of EU policy-making in most EU member states. Hence, this study has
important implications for our understanding of how issues regarding
European integration affect electoral politics, as well as for the ongoing debate
regarding legitimacy and accountability in EU politics.
Original language | English |
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Number of pages | 33 |
Publication status | Published - 18 Nov 2010 |
Event | The PIREDEU Conference - Brussels, Belgium Duration: 18 Nov 2010 → 19 Nov 2010 |
Conference
Conference | The PIREDEU Conference |
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City | Brussels, Belgium |
Period | 18/11/10 → 19/11/10 |