Analysing political dynamics in the new European Parliament: Political Cleavages and Division Lines

Following the 2024 European elections, the European Parliament is undergoing a political realignment characterised by the emergence of new groups, the disappearance of others and the arrival of numerous national parties, against a backdrop of significant developments, as illustrated in particular by the debates surrounding the ‘Sustainability Omnibus’ legislative package in 2025 and by the formation of unprecedented coalitions.

Comprising more than 200 parties from the 27 Member States, this environment is characterised by its diversity, complexity and the absence of strict party discipline, revealing shifting and sometimes divergent internal dynamics. This study aims to analyse in detail the voting behaviour of MEPs during the first year of the legislative term, in order to highlight the political balances, fault lines and interactions between groups, drawing on a structured methodology and a step-by-step exploration of the dynamics, from political composition to the main divisions running through the Parliament.

This study, which will be followed by further publications on the European Parliament, is published as part of the work carried out by the Jacques Delors Institute’s ‘European Parliament Policy Observatory’ working group.