19/10/2018 (Agence Europe) – Slovak Maroš Šefčovič and Dutchman Frans Timmermans are the two declared candidates for the appointment of top candidates for the European Social Democratic party for the May 2019 European elections, confirmed on Friday 19 May the Party of European Socialists (PES) after the deadline for applications. The first declared candidate (see EUROPE 12097), the current Commissioner for the Energy Union, Mr Šefčovič, is supported by nine PES member parties (minimum threshold), while his rival, the current Vice-President of the European Commission, who announced his candidacy in early October (see EUROPE 12114), has so far obtained the support of eleven parties. The candidates are expected to be auditioned in November, after which the Socialist Spitzenkandidat will be elected on 1 December. The official candidate will be confirmed at the PES Congress on 7 and 8 December in Lisbon. (MF)