On Tuesday evening, 16 July, the GUE/NGL bureau had still not reached an agreement on the chair of the group. Similarly, after the bureau meeting on Wednesday 17 July in the morning, there still seemed to be no consensus among the various delegations, which is increasingly considering turning to a two-person chair, such as the Greens/EFA group or the ECR have done.
Several mentioned the possibility of a co-chair at the head of the group flanked by a system of four Vice-Chairs representing the four main internal currents of the confederal group, namely, the European Left (18 members), the Nordic Green Left (five members), the Maintenant le peuple movement (12 members) and the communists (five members).
Interim Chair Martin Schirdewan (GUE/NGL, Germany), elected as part of a temporary compromise (see EUROPE 12283/4), could be chosen to remain as head of the group. It remains to be seen who could be the co-chair. The only certainty is that it will have to be a woman because of gender parity.
A new bureau meeting was scheduled for Wednesday evening. Discussions are difficult because of the decision-making process that follows the principle of consensus. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)