Europe's voters go to the polls next week to elect 751 members of the EU parliament. With anti-establishment sentiment growing across the continent and a large dose of voter apathy, it could make for some unusual alliances in the chamber.
The Guardian's Europe editor Ian Traynor explains that the parliament is now no longer a mere talking shop – it has real powers. But it's yet to be taken seriously by a majority of the vast European electorate.
Joining Tom Clark this week are the Guardian's political correspondent Rowena Mason; political columnist Martin Kettle and our social affairs editor Randeep Ramesh.
Also this week: Labour have been overtaken by the Conservatives in our most recent opinion poll for the first time in more than two years. With European and local elections imminent and a byelection to fight in Newark, the coming days and weeks could prove vital to Ed Miliband.
Plus: the world's biggest ever democratic election has taken place in India – more than 800 million people were eligible to vote. Are fears justified about the likely new prime minister Narendra Modi?
Leave your thoughts below.
