Brussels, 14/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - Jean-Pierre Audy (EPP, France) said in a tweet on 13 February that EU Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier has indicated to him that he will be standing for the job of president of the European Commission.
The period for the lodging of official EPP candidates opened on 13 February and will close on 5 March (see below). Contacted by this newsletter, the EPP press office said, on Friday afternoon 14 February, that they have not yet received any official application from the commissioner or anyone else. In the battle to become the EPP's official candidate for the Commission presidency, Barnier will face opposition from Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg, who seems to be the favourite at present, and also from Latvia's Valdis Dombrovskis. The EPP expects there to be a number of candidates. In France, Barnier has the backing of his party, the UMP, but the Socialist government seems to prefer Germany's Martin Schulz, a member of the European Socialists. (SP/transl.fl)