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Lot's of confusion about what happens if UK holds #EP2019 elections and then leaves middle of the year.
Shorter: it doesn't mean re-running elections or holding by-elections.
1/short thread
Shorter: it doesn't mean re-running elections or holding by-elections.
1/short thread
There are precedents and procedures for filling European Parliament seats in the event that an MEP quits/dies or whatever.
Each country has different ways of dealing with the issue - which was foreseen in the current EP elections legislatino that was passed nationally. /2
Each country has different ways of dealing with the issue - which was foreseen in the current EP elections legislatino that was passed nationally. /2
The details are here....this gives gives the examples of 9 of the 14 who are getting extra seats (DK, HR, AU, FI, SW, IE, IT, FR, ES). /3
europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/…
europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/…
I understand Ireland is a tricky case, because it doesn't have list system.
This means you can't elect four MEPs and then choose top 3 until UK leaves and IE takes fourth seat...becuase if you ran only a 3-seat election you would get different top 3, than if ran 4-seat /4
This means you can't elect four MEPs and then choose top 3 until UK leaves and IE takes fourth seat...becuase if you ran only a 3-seat election you would get different top 3, than if ran 4-seat /4
But the key point remains - that it is incumbent on Member States to fill their seats when the European parliament is reconstituted after a UK departure and the 27 redistriuted seats 'kick', bringing those MEPs in from the 'waiting room', so to speak. /5
It might be messy, but EU officials very clear that it HAS been foreseen and legislated for and is not an impediment to extension. Even the Austrian foreign minister seemed to be confused on this point on @BBCr4today yesterday. 6/ENDS
