Brussels, 02/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - The two biggest European political families, the European People's Party (EPP) and the Party of European Socialists (PES) unveiled their campaign strategies on Tuesday 1 October. They are expected to appoint their respective candidates in February (PES) and March (EPP) for the post of Commission president, in accordance with their previous commitment on this question.
Although the Lisbon Treaty stipulates that the choice of the future head of the European Commission by the heads of state and government should reflect the election results, the parties have sought to personalise the campaign and appoint a “head” of the list who will lead their respective election strategies.
At the PES, the current president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, is so far the only candidate, but other contenders for the post could make themselves known in October, according to a PES press release published on Tuesday. The PES explained that, “each nominee needs to be supported by 15% of PES full member parties or organisations. To reach 15%, a candidate will therefore need six parties or organisations: one nominating her/him, five other supporting”. On 6 November, the PES will unveil the names that will go forward.
At the EPP, we will have to wait until the Congress on 6-7 March in Dublin to know the name of the fortunate person selected. The nominees mentioned over the past few weeks include Michel Barnier (Commissioner for the Internal Market) and Viviane Reding (Commissioner for Justice).
The ALDE will be in London at the end of November to make official the names of its nominees and Guy Verhofstadt and Olli Rehn are expected to express an interest for this post, according to one source. The current Commissioner for economic and monetary affairs, however, is likely to be beaten by Verhofstadt and according to one source, “no one can support Mr Troika”. The vote by party members is expected to take place in January.
The European Greens will meet for their Congress on 8 November in Brussels and will provide details of its draft manifesto to be adopted in February during a Convention. They will also put forward their “first choices” online and all citizens aged over 16 will be able to choose up to the end of January, online, the two candidates that will head the election campaign. (SP/transl.fl)