European democracy in action? The 2024 European Parliament elections

The 2024 European Parliament elections occurred in the context of mounting internal and external pressures on the European Union, including democratic backsliding, rising radical right influence and contentious debates over immigration and climate policy. This introductory article sets the stage for the Special Issue on the 2024 European Parliament elections by outlining the background of the vote, analysing the results and summarising key findings from the contributing studies. Drawing on original data from the European Election Study (EES) 2024, this Special Issue explores how growing support for populist radical right parties has reshaped the European political landscape. The articles investigate evolving conflict lines in European electoral politics, from attitudes toward liberal democracy and European integration to climate action and immigration. Together, these studies provide critical insights into the changing dynamics of voter behaviour, party competition and democratic governance in the EU, raising important questions about the Union's capacity to navigate future challenges and sustain deeper integration.