Euroelections as European media event?

The chapter discusses the media event notion and its function considering the European elections. In a mediatized scenario the elections are occasions where media make possible a significant shared experience at society’s centre, a ritual of democracy that sustains the social integration. But this vision is focused on a national view and it is not easily adaptable for the supranational scenario thatoriginated with EU integration. The political system and the media system are used to consider Euroelections as national competitions and the citizens live the same event but not in the same symbolic arena. The Euroelections have not yet stimulated the shaping of a supranational mediatized ritual. This lack does not support a wide-European public debate neither feelings of belonging and solidarity.