Storyline:
The shock results of European Parliament elections that concluded Sunday have cast uncertainty on the future of European politics, raising concerns among European citizens about the direction their countries and the continent as a whole.

Far-right parties made big gains in the elections, which rattled governments in Europe and led to political shake-ups, including parliamentary dissolution and cabinet resignations.

As a major axis of the European Union, France saw its ruling Renaissance party suffering a significant defeat in the elections, gaining less than half the support of the far-right National Rally party.

Following the loss, French President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly and called for early legislative elections, a big surprise to the European public.

Macron's decision to hold an early election is likely a tactical move aimed at the 2027 presidential election, but the outcome remains uncertain, according to Fabian Zuleeg, the chief executive and chief economist of the European Policy Center.

Similarly, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo also faced defeat in federal, regional, and European Parliament elections, as his Flemish liberal party, Open VLD, only won seven seats, which forced De Croo to resign.

Belgium, a country previously without a government for more than 500 days, will face a challenging process in forming a federal government, according to Zuleeg.

The rise of far-right parties in major EU countries such as France and Germany will impact the EU's policy-making and add more uncertainty to Europe's future. The growing populism of far right parties has been driven by concerns over rising prices, immigration, the cost of green transitions, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Shotlist:
FILE: Paris, France - Date Unknown
1. Various of Eiffel Tower, building, boats on river;
2. Various of Arc de Triomphe, traffic;
Brussels, Belgium - June 10, 2024
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Fabian Zuleeg, chief executive and chief economist, European Policy Center (partially overlaid with shot 4):
"I think he's also thinking tactically, he's thinking ahead of the next presidential election in France. So, his decision is that it would be better to have an election now. (We) hope to see that this is not going to be the kind of majority, which we will then see in the national election, but also to put a bit of a test on the far right in France to make them having to govern in a difficult situation. So hopefully voters will then form a different opinion before the next presidential election, but it remains a gamble."
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4. Interview in progress
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FILE: Brussels, Belgium - Nov 14, 2023
5. Various of Royal Palace of Brussels, national flag of Belgium;
6. Traffic;
Brussels, Belgium - June 10, 2024
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Fabian Zuleeg, chief executive and chief economist, European Policy Center:
"There's a big fragmentation in Belgian politics, so we have a lot of parties which have some seats, which has always made creating a Belgian government quite difficult.";
FILE: Brussels, Belgium - March 21, 2024
8. Sign on EU building;
9. EU flags;
FILE: Brussels, Belgium - Date Unknown
10. Various of EU flags in front of Berlaymont building;
Brussels, Belgium - June 10, 2024;
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Fabian Zuleeg, chief executive and chief economist, European Policy Center:
"What we've seen is a number of national factors-dissatisfaction with governments, for example. The more extremist parties getting stronger. But in the end, it is also about people feeling policies in their own pocket, having gone through a number of crises over the last years. So, clearly people are feeling that the world in which they are living is not as comfortable as it used to be.";
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Janis A. Emmanouilidis, deputy chief executive and director of studies, European Policy Center (partially overlaid with shot 13):
"We're living in very difficult times, with immense challenges. And the question is, will a high-level of ambition be formulated among the EU 27 in the European Union and will that then be implemented in future. That is the longer term question that needs to be responded to. And that is still a big question mark."
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13. Interview in progress
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FILE: Brussels, Belgium - Date Unknown
14. Various of EU flags in front of Berlaymont building.

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