Politicians wishing to be nominated as head of list (‘Spitzenkandidat’) of the ‘European People's Party’ (EPP) for the European elections, which will take place between 6 and 9 June, must submit their candidacy by 21 February. The person who will represent the Christian Democrat family will then be chosen at the party's electoral congress, which will take place on 6 and 7 March in Bucharest (see EUROPE 13283/2).
Several EPP insiders, widely echoed by the media, believe that the current President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, could be a candidate. On the strength of her honourable record, she could obtain a new five-year mandate if the Christian Democrats obtain good electoral results and if she succeeds in bringing together a majority within the European Parliament, which will emerge from the ballot box in June. However, the former German minister has not yet announced her intentions.
The appointment of a ‘Spitzenkandidat’ is enshrined in the EPP party statutes. Its president, Germany’s Manfred Weber, has publicly stated that his family would support Ms von der Leyen if she were to express an interest in a second term at the helm of the EU institution.
To be nominated as the EPP Group’s head of list, the candidate must be supported in writing by his or her national party and at the same time obtain the support of two other parties that are members of the EPP Group.
Ms von der Leyen is also thought by some to have her sights set on the post of NATO Secretary General, with Jens Stoltenberg’s successor due to be appointed at the Washington summit in July. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)