Quirky and controversial: Europe's new MEPs

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Europe

Ex-ministers, political novices, jailed politicians, conspiracy theorists and a former NBA player: European voters elected a colorful cast of characters to the European Parliament.

So who are some of the new MEPs who will convene in Strasbourg in July?

The politicians

SILVIO BERLUSCONI – Forza Italia, Italy

The scandal-prone former Italian prime minister needs no introduction. A media mogul, he made headlines for years thanks to his numerous corruption trials and "bunga bunga" parties, but had lately disappeared from the political scene. He is now making a comeback at 82.

Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi gestures during a television talk show in Rome, Italy, January 11, 2018. /VCG Photo

HEINZ-CHRISTIAN STRACHE – Freedom Party, Austria

The far-right leader fell from grace two weeks ago over a video scandal that has since felled the Austrian government. He resigned as vice-chancellor but now looks set to enter the European Parliament instead, having garnered enough preferential votes.

ORIOL JUNQUERAS – Republics Now, Spain

One of 12 Catalonian politicians accused by Spain of rebellion and misuse of funds over a failed 2017 independence bid, Junqueras won a seat in the European Parliament despite being in prison. Whether he will be able to take his seat is unclear: Still on trial, he faces 25 years if found guilty.

The young 'uns

JORDAN BARDELLA – National Rally, France

A rising star in the French far-right, Bardella looks set to become the youngest ever MEP at age 23. Anti-immigrant and populist, he tried to appeal to the youth vote – and apparently succeeded, leading his party to first place in the European election in France.

MAGID MAGID – Green Party, UK

Nicknamed Britain's "coolest" mayor, the 29-year-old former Somali refugee made headlines last year when he "banned" U.S. President Donald Trump from Sheffield. Fond of back-to-front baseball caps and active on social media, he has vowed to "beat the far-right."

A campaign poster on the official Instagram account of the German satirical party Die Partei reads 'Good enough for Europe.' /CGTN screenshot

The jokers and conspiracy theorists

DIE PARTEI – Germany

Fronted by a comedian, the satirical party campaigned on absurd issues – such as replacing air traffic with virtual reality travel and suspending the driver's licenses of climate change deniers, as well as voting rights for the elderly in the last 18 years of their lives – claiming that politicians never keep their promises anyway. It will be sending three MEPs to the new European Parliament.

HUMAN SHIELD – Croatia

The anti-eviction, euroskeptic and populist party was founded by Ivan Pernar, who has called the war on terror a fraud, compared the U.S. to Nazi Germany, argued that politicians were under the Freemasons' influence and that "imperialist" elites have "enslaved" people with unpayable debt. It won one seat in the election.

The wives

MAGDALENA ADAMOWICZ – Civic Platform, Poland

Adamowicz decided to run after her husband Pawel Adamowicz, the popular liberal mayor of Gdansk, was assassinated earlier this year. Backed by her husband's previous party, she said she wanted to continue his work and campaigned against hate speech.

KLARA DOBREV – Democratic Coalition, Hungary

The wife of former Hungarian prime minister and Democratic Coalition leader Ferenc Gyurcsany, Dobrev campaigned for a United States of Europe and has been strongly critical of the ruling populist Fidesz party and Prime Minister Viktor Orban. She was previously in charge of EU programs in Hungary.

Klara Dobrev (L), wife of then Hungarian prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsany, is pictured with Kwon Yang-Sook (R), wife of then South Korean president Roh Moo-Hyun, in Seoul, South Korea, March 10, 2005. /VCG Photo

The crossover

NIYAZI KIZILYUREK – Akel, Cyprus

The 59-year-old university professor and political novice is the first Turkish Cypriot candidate to be elected to the European Parliament, and even more unusually, was backed by a Greek Cypriot party. Voters on the northern side of the divided island even crossed the ceasefire line into the south to cast their ballot for him.

No thanks

SARUNAS MARCIULIONIS – Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union, Lithuania

One of the first Europeans to join the NBA in 1989, the former Golden State Warriors player is credited with introducing the so-called Euro step to the American game. A Basketball Hall of Famer and former Olympic champion, the 54-year-old won one of two seats for his party – but announced this week he will not take it after all.

(Cover picture: Green Party MEP candidate Magid Magid poses for a picture in London, UK, May 8, 2019. /Getty Images)