Strasbourg, 13/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - The former Ombudsman of the Basque country, Xabier Markiegi, and the former Greek Vice-President of the European Parliament, Giorgios Anastassopoulos, have both withdrawn their candidacies for the post of European Ombudsman. This means that just ahead of the elections (which may still go into a second round), there are five candidates remaining: Greek national Nikiforos Diamandouros, described as the favourite; British Conservative MEP Roy Perry, considered the main outsider; Italian national Giuseppe Fortunato, and Belgians Pierre-Yves Monette and Herman Wuyts. To win in the first round requires a majority of the votes cast and the poll will take place at midday on Tuesday. The successful candidate will take over from Jacob Söderman (who has resigned the post) until the normal end of the mandate (which coincides with the end of the current EP legislature). After the June 2004 European elections, the European Parliament will have to appoint a new European Ombudsman, whose term in office will run until the end of 2009 in the new 25-state European Union.