Editorials.

The article focuses on the European Parliament. From Milan to Manchester and from Madrid to Munich, voters do not much care which of the 567 deputies represents them in Strasbourg, so when they do bother to go to the polls, they can express their preference without worrying about wasting their vote. The European elections, held every five years, thus serve as a glorified opinion poll, providing a good snapshot of the political mood of the moment, though not necessarily a guide to future national elections.