In the absence of agreement with the SPD ministers of the governing coalition, German Chancellor Angela Merkel should, in principle, abstain if there is a vote at the European Council on the future President of the European Commission (see EUROPE B12278A1).
However, the Secretary of State for European Affairs, Michael Roth, reminded us again this week that his party still supports the Social Democratic candidate, Franz Timmermans (Netherlands).
On Wednesday 19 June, sources close to the...