On Monday 17 September, the European Green Party announced in a press release that four political figures had put themselves forward to become co-Spitzenkandidaten for the European elections next May.
As expected, Ska Keller of Germany and Petra De Sutter of Belgium are among the candidates (see EUROPE 12086). Bas Eickhout of the Netherlands and Atanas Schmidt of Bulgaria are also on the list. They have all been placed at the top of the list of their national delegations by their respective parties.
“It is time that Europe changes”, Eickhout states in a press release, saying “normal Europeans ask themselves what Europe is doing for them”. “I want to break the status quo in Europe”, he added.
“We applaud each candidate for throwing their hats into the ring ahead of these crucial European elections for the future of our union”, said Monica Frassoni and Reinhard Bütikofer, the co-presidents of the European political formation.
Since 2014, the European Green Party has been unique in that it has presented a two-pillar candidacy for defending the ecologist programme. During the last elections, Ska Keller and José Bové of France had shared that responsibility.
In order to be officially eligible to become joint heads of list of the party, the four political figures must gather the support of at least five national parties belonging to the European Green Party (other than the parties having brought their candidature) by 28 September. If such is the case, they may then compete for the posts.
The two Spitzenkandidaten will be officially chosen and invested by the delegates of the political formation during a congress to be held in Berlin on Friday 23 and Sunday 25 November. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)