Brussels, 27/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - After its internal battle over the candidate to lead the campaign for the European elections, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party is due to reorganise itself on Saturday 1 February for the critical fight. During a congress, its troops will be asked to support the Verhofstadt-Rehn ticket that was proposed on Monday 20 January (see EUROPE 11000).
One week ago, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte and leader of the German Free Democratic Party (FDP), Christian Lindner suggested that Guy Verhofstadt MEP (leader of the ALDE Group at the European Parliament) and European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn lead the campaign together for, respectively, the post of president of the European Commission and posts linked to the Eurogroup or foreign affairs. “I have no doubt that the Party will accept this compromise”, said leader of the ALDE Party Graham Watson in Brussels on Monday 27 January. He denied allegations that he would have preferred Rehn to lead the race to the Commission. These were “ridiculous” statements, he said.
Although some French ALDE members, particularly members from the French MoDem Party, had threatened to leave the ALDE Party if Rehn won the decision, the ALDE Party congress in Brussels on 1 February should be one of regained unity. It will launch the Party on a campaign that Watson hopes will be “successful”. However, the elections are likely to be “difficult for us”, Watson believed. While turn-out could be higher than in previous ballots - which is positive - the vote could go towards extremes - as several opinion polls have recently shown (for example, in France). “However, I expect our group to retain a reasonable number of seats, even if in difficult conditions.”
The chances of Verhofstadt obtaining the presidency of the Commission seem fairly slim. Nevertheless, Watson stated, Rehn would not be sidelined from the race for the posts that he would like if the presidency of the Commission slips through the ALDE Party's fingers.
Could the compromise of 20 January turn out to be more favourable for Rehn than it seems? “For the Eurogroup, it's necessary to be a minister or commissioner. And for the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, he would need to be nominated by his government first and then he would need the others to accept that a neutral country, which has derogations from the CFSP/CSDP, become the head of European diplomacy”, says a source who does not put too much store by this idea. The first great debate of the candidates for the head of the Commission will take place in Athens on 8 March, as part of a Committee of the Regions event (the EPP is expected to choose its candidate in Dublin in early March). Another debate is being looked into for 9 May in Florence, and another on 14 May. (SP/transl.fl)