Many young people use hashtags on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, but most lack any political purpose. Instead, most prefer to link photos with hashtags to share emotions with their friends and followers – or to refer to a broader topic which can be accessed by clicking on the given hashtag. #GreenPrimary – this is the hashtag being used by the European Green Party (EGP) to promote their party online in regards to the upcoming European Parliament elections. But what structural ideas and motivations stand behind #GreenPrimary?
What does #GreenPrimary stand for?
Once you click on the #GreenPrimary hashtag you will enter the webpage greenprimary.eu where you are welcomed to the first Europe-wide Online Primary open to anyone wishing to participate! This means that theoretically every European from Lisbon to Warsaw can vote for the two candidates which appeals him or her most. The idea behind this campaign is to rebuild the trust of European citizens which has been unstable since the economic crisis in 2008. Thus, the EGP opts to give citizens an increased voice in European politics by allowing a facilitated access to primary voting. The Madrid- based campaign began in May 2013 and is now supported by 46 Green Parties in and outside of the European Union.
How is the Primary Process organized?
The Online Primary of the EGP follows a schedule which is constructed by the committee of the European Green Party, supported by the campaign team. Additionally, an electoral board takes care of the entire primary process. The electoral board consists of representatives of members of Green Parties from different member states.
From September to the end of October 2013, candidates have been chosen by Green Parties from all over the EU, with each member party of the EGP allowed to support one candidate.
Only contenders which gained the backing of at least four member parties within the EGP were permitted to run in the Green Primary. The Primary voting phase started on November 10th 2013 and will last until January 28th 2014. Until then, all European residents are allowed to vote for either one or two out of the four contenders.
The campaign is supposed to include especially the younger generation as voting is allowed from the age of 16 in all parts of the EU. On January 29th, the results of the Primary will be announced and the leading candidates will be presented. The two winners will be the representing faces of the European wide election campaign of the Greens and will therefore participate in TV debates with the leading candidates from other European parties.
How does the online voting work?
Voting is possible with laptop, tablet or even the smartphone – a functioning internet connection is equally recommended. There are four rather small steps to take in order to cast a vote. For more information, follow #GreenPrimary!
Further information can be found about the candidates, via videos, chats, and public debates taking place in different cities all over Europe, aimed at allowing you to have your say in the #GreenPrimary.
One might wonders what happens with the personal data one indicates on the webpage in terms of personal data security. greenprimary.eu explains that the information given by voters will be saved on the servers of SCYTL, the company in charge of the voting system. It promises to delete the data by a certified procedure after the end of the Green Primary. Furthermore, each vote is encrypted and can only be decrypted by the electoral board.
Green Online Primary – success or failure?
Given the chance to select online candidates, one indeed feels closer to the elections. Throughout the last few years, internet voting systems have become popular in many different countries, whether in governmental elections or referendums. The E-Democracy project of the EGP is certainly a unique and new approach to involve citizens in the political process and to approach green-minded people all over Europe. Nevertheless, one wonders how representative the Green Primary is, as one fourth(!) of the European population do not have access to the internet and is therefore not able to participate in the Online Primary.[1]
Furthermore, it remains questionable how many people actually participate. The results published at the end of January will reveal more information on the success or failure of the campaign.
One should keep in mind, however, that for the actual elections in June, citizens still have to vote in the ‘traditional way.’ Regardless, the aim of the Green Primary to connect all green-minded people can be seen as a further step towards European-wide integration and as an an attempt to reduce the democratic deficit.
Young EUptimistics 