16/10/2018 (Agence Europe) – The European Socialist party is preparing to close, on 18 October at one minute to midnight, its list of candidates interested in being head of list at the next European elections. At this stage, two well-known figures have shown an interest: the current energy commissioner, Maros Sefcovic of Slovakia, who currently enjoys support from 9 parties of the ESP, and the first vice-president of the Juncker Commission, Frans Timmermans of the Netherlands, supported by 10 parties. If the ESP finds the applications are valid on 26 October, there should be a hearing of the candidates during November, after which the Socialist Spitzenkandidat will be elected on 1 December. The chosen person will then speak in public at the party congress in Lisbon on 7 and 8 December. (SP)