Brussels, 18/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - The main points of the campaign of former Latvian prime minister, Valdis Dombrovskis, for the presidency of the European Commission are a Europe focused on “competitiveness” and on the elements essential for growth and jobs, and a Europe which is careful to implement the reforms that have been decided upon. As predicted, Dombrovskis officially presented his candidacy for the presidency of the Commission for the European People's Party (EPP) when he came to Brussels on Tuesday 18 February. He was, moreover, the first to submit his candidacy and the EPP now awaits those of the French commissioner, Michel Barnier, and of the former head of the Eurogroup, Jean-Claude Juncker. The fate of the EPP applicants to succeed European Commission President José Manuel Barroso will be decided upon at the EPP congress in Dublin in three weeks' time.
Dombrovskis has received the support necessary for his candidacy. This comes from the three Conservative parties of the Baltic states. At this stage, Michel Barnier's candidacy is only officially supported by the French UMP party and a spokesperson from the EPP refused to state on Tuesday morning from which countries Barnier's required support would come (three national parties and two coming from two different member states). The same goes for Juncker from Luxembourg, who could nevertheless enjoy the support of the Benelux and that of Germany (as Angela Merkel has expressed her support for him on several occasions).
Dombrovskis recognises that he is up against serious candidates and said on Tuesday morning that “currently” he was only a candidate for the post of Commission president. However, according to Le Monde, the young 42-year old could, in fact, only be in the race for a commissioner's post with the next Brussels-based European Commission, and he could even “withdraw just before the Dublin congress”, Le Monde states in blog - which would thus leave just Barnier and Juncker in the running for the “final showdown”. The winning candidate will be the first past the post, garnering most votes. Although nearly 2,000 participants are expected in Dublin, only 850 delegates are likely to be able to vote by secret ballot. (SP/transl.fl)