One of the biggest exercises in democracy this year is filling 720 seats from 27 countries in the European Parliamentary elections. As results continue to flood in, a split-screen image is emerging. Establishment parties did well in many countries and EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen's centrist European People's party will remain the largest group. But in France, Marine Le Pen and her far-right allies won twice as many seats as centrist President Emmanuel Macron's party. Italy's former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, whose centre-left party failed to win any seats, joins the show from Rome, and journalist and author Christine Ockrent joins the show from Paris.  

Also on today's show: Former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni; author Ernesto Londoño 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices