Photo by Manny Becerra on Unsplash
Leading European footballers, including Belgian Red Flames captain Tessa Wullaert, are helping to promote the EU elections.
She is among other stars of the women’s game who have signed up to the campaign urging people to vote on 6 to 9 June. Turnout is seen as key in the election in the wake of falling participation rates in past elections.
A similar initiative is being undertaken in the men’s game ahead of Saturday’s Champion’s League final.
Elsewhere, major European clubs, including German champions Bayer Leverkusen, Europa League winners Atalanta, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, and SSC Napoli have or are set to use their club platforms to encourage citizens to vote.
In Brussels, Belgian national football team player Amadou Onana organised a mini tournament for 16 to 18-year-olds on 25 May to encourage them to vote for the first time. At the Brussels 20 km race on 26 May, 1,300 staff members of the European institutions ran under the “Running for Europe” banner alongside an information stand at the race finish about the upcoming elections.
The Internationaux de Strasbourg Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tournament (18 -25 May) displayed a #UseYourVote campaign banner at the host venue, as well as hosting an information stand, and Italian Paralympic triathlon bronze medallist Veronika Yoko sported a #UseYourVote campaign scarf during Milan Fashion Week.
It is all aimed at boosting turnout in an election that, in the past, has proved a turn off for many voters.
The parliament was encouraged by participation in the last election in 2019 which saw a turnout of just over 50 percent, higher than in recent elections. It hopes to achieve at least the same level in this election.
Meanwhile, Parliament says it is doing its utmost to support the media across Europe on their coverage in the run-up to the elections.
The main focus will be on election night on Sunday 9 June, when provisional election results will be released, but media will be welcome at the European Parliament before and after that date.Parliament’s press service will organise briefings for media, in physical presence and remotely to provide background information about the European elections, including useful facts and figures about the Parliament.
A spokesman told this site: “Journalists will also get details on the methodology used by Parliament’s services to estimate the results, on measures to guarantee the elections’ integrity and the key political moments after the elections.”
He added, “The press service will also provide information on the transition to the next parliamentary term, including on pending legislative work, on the election of the Commission President and on the procedure to appoint the next College of Commissioners.”
