Parliamentary

The first international election in history took place between June 7-10, 1979--  the election of a European Parliament.  There were 81 seats up for grabs in the each of the four leading nations:  France, Italy, West Germany and the UK.  The Netherlands had 25, Belgium 24, Denmark 16, Ireland 15 and Luxembourg 6.  Previously, member nations sent representatives that had already won office in their home countries.

The campaigns varied.  Former German Chancellor Willy Brandt campaigned in several countries, but former French President Jaques Chirac used it as a dry run for a potential 1981 match with Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.  Voter turnout was mixed, as well.  In the UK was low, under a third, but all other countries saw over 50% participation.  Italy saw over 80% of its citizens vote.

Ultimately, the European Parliament hasn't meant much, sort of a continental UN.  But the ramifications continue today.  We recently saw that Greece entered the European Economic Community in the spring of '79.  Now?  Their economic condition, in the absence of able leadership, might bring the entire Eurozone down.  A toothless European Parliament can only sit and watch...