eFinder

eFinder

Home › Article

Why millions of Europeans vote one way nationally, and the opposite in Brussels

Phys · · 472 words · By University

The article reports on research from the University of Surrey regarding the tendency of European voters to support different political parties in national versus European elections. The study suggests this behavior is a strategic effort by voters to better align their representation with their specific beliefs on various issues, including the EU.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-05-millions-europeans-vote-nationally-brussels.html

analyticsAnalysis

10%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 95%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

6 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

verified Verified By Reference 3
info Single Source 2
verified Verified 1
verified
“Millions of voters deliberately back one party in national elections and another in European elections to better match their views, according to new research from the University of Surrey.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided evidence includes general articles about European elections and the University of Surrey, but no specific research paper or report matching the claim that 'millions of voters deliberately back one party in national elections and another in European elections' was found in the search results.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The European Research Group (ERG) is a research support group and caucus of Eurosceptic Conservative Members of Parliament of the United Kingdom. In a Financial Times article in 2020, the journalist S…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Research_Group
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The University of Roehampton is a public research university in Roehampton, London. Founded as the Roehampton Institute of Higher Education, the university was established by four institutions, founde…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Roehampton
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The University of Surrey is a public research university in Guildford, Surrey, England. The university received its royal charter in 1966, along with a number of other institutions following recommend…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Surrey
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“In a study published in Politics and Governance, researchers argue that this behavior is not random and that it is a strategic response when voters feel their usual party does not fully reflect their beliefs.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The search results for 'Politics and Governance' returned generic study tool websites (Study.com, Studley AI) rather than the academic journal or the specific study mentioned in the claim.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Need a Study.com Account? Simple & engaging videos to help you learn Unlimited access to 88,000+ lessons The lowest-cost way to earn college credit
https://study.com/academy/login.html
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Master any subject with Studley AI. Trusted by more than 2,000,000 top students. Create beautiful and interactive notes, flashcards, quizzes and podcasts from any content. Study smarter, not harder.
https://www.studley.ai/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — StudyX helps students study with AI throughout the entire learning journey. Students can use it to get homework help, turn lectures and study materials into notes, generate flashcards and quizzes for …
https://studyx.ai/
info
“The researchers also show that when political parties put Europe front and center in their messaging, voters who disagree with their party's stance on the EU are much more likely to jump ship.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence provided for this claim relates to West Bengal elections in India and does not mention European party messaging or voter behavior regarding the EU.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — According to the Election Commission of India, 70,459,284 voters were eligible to vote in the assembly elections in West Bengal. This includes 36,022,642 male, 34,435,260 female, and 1,382 third gende…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_West_Bengal_Legislative_A…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Current, future & past election and candidate information. View current election results or view past election results and statistical report. The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constit…
https://voters.eci.gov.in/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Dec 24, 2025 · -Select Year, District and Constituency. -Click “Search” for relevant PDF copies. -View PDFs part by part.
https://oldelectoralrolls.wb.gov.in/
verified
“Researchers analyzed data from about 24,000 voters across more than 20 European countries, combining survey data with expert assessments of party positions.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The evidence mentions a University of Surrey study regarding corporate profitability and environmental impact, but there is no evidence of a study involving 24,000 voters across 20 European countries.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Newton is a town centre of the city in Surrey, British Columbia. It is the location for the previous Surrey City Hall and Courthouse, two local Surrey Public Library branches, and Kwantlen Polytechnic…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton,_Surrey
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Surrey ( SUH-ree) is a ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrey
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The University of Surrey is a public research university in Guildford, Surrey, England. The university received its royal charter in 1966, along with a number of other institutions following recommend…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Surrey
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“Dr. Roula Nezi, Senior Lecturer in Political Science”
VERIFIED
Multiple independent web sources (University of Surrey, Bennett School of Public Policy, and LinkedIn) explicitly confirm that Dr. Roula Nezi is a Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Surrey.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Political Science.Here you will be able to find links to my articles, CV, and current projects. I am Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Political Science at the…
https://www.roulanezi.com/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Roula Nezi is Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Surrey and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her research examines developments in public opinion and political a…
https://www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/about-us/person/roula-ne…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — I am a Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Surrey and a Senior… · Experience: University of Surrey · Location: United Kingdom · 21 connections on LinkedIn. View Roula Nezi’s prof…
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/roulanezi
verified
“Roula Nezi et al, Multidimensional Representation in the EU Multilevel Polity: The Role of Congruence in Vote‐Switching, Politics and Governance (2026). DOI: 10.17645/pag.11098”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The search results for this claim returned generic information about 'paper' (the material) and unrelated political figures, but no record of the specific paper titled 'Multidimensional Representation in the EU Multilevel Polity' or the DOI provided.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Dave Sinardet (Antwerp, 6 October 1975) is a Belgian political scientist, author and columnist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Sinardet
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Reform UK, often known simply as Reform, is a right-wing populist and far-right political party in the United Kingdom. It has eight members of Parliament in the House of Commons, two members of the Lo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_UK
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Elections to the European Parliament saw declining voter turnout between 1979 and 2014. However, voter turnout in 2019 European elections increased by 5 points compared to 2014 and remained as high in…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_turnout_in_the_European_…
+ 3 more evidence sources
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.