08/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - Denis McShane, British Minster for European Affairs and Vice-President of the Party of European Socialists (PES), expresses indignation in a press release at the announcement by Hans-Gert Pöttering that he EPP-ED Group at the European Parliament would not accept a Socialist president for the new European Commission (see EUROPE of 5 March, p.5). "We need the best-qualified candidate for the job, irrespective of party label or what previous posts they have held", Mr McSchane said (Ed.: the United Kingdom is said to have the intention of backing Antonio Vitorino's candidacy). The minister goes on to warn: "In any case, the right wing European Peoople's Party will not have an absolute majority in Strasbourg" and "Mr Pöttering knows full well that British Conservatives will not support any of the ultra-federalist candidates who want a European superstate of the kind he favours".