Brussels, 11/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - The leader of the European People's Party (EPP) at the European Parliament, Joseph Daul of France, expressed his “support” and “confidence” in the prime minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, on Thursday 11 July. Juncker was to go to the Grand Duke of Luxembourg that afternoon to ask for early elections to be held. After the meeting, the Grand Duke decided that there should be “time for reflection”. The Socialists, acting as “kingmakers”, therefore decided not to support their government ally. The motions of no confidence submitted by the opposition parties and the Socialist Party may not have been voted on but Juncker was only too able to note the lack of support at the end of the debate.
Elections may be held on 20 October. The government will remain in place until then with possible dissolution of the House of Representatives around 8 October. Juncker is also well on the way to taking over from himself as he is still very popular among the public despite the scandal surrounding him. It is likely he will head his party's list. Viviane Reding, the European commissioner whose name is often mentioned in this respect, said on Thursday that Juncker was “the best person to lead our country”. Juncker, for his part, said his candidacy would depend on what his party wants, the party being due to meet on Thursday evening. The names of the deputy prime minister and the foreign minister, Jean Asselborn, and the minister of the economy and foreign trade, Etienne Schneider, are making the rounds. “Jean-Claude Juncker has all my trust and my support for the national and European elections to come”, said Daul, describing Juncker as one of the “pillars of the EPP political family”. When asked about the possibility of Juncker being at the top of the party's list for the presidency of the European Commission, an EPP source replied that he was a “good candidate but we have many good candidates”. In March, Juncker told EUROPE that he was neither interested in that post nor in that of president of the European Council. (EL/transl.jl)