02/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Congress of the Party of European Socialists (PES), meeting in Madrid, has decided not to designate a candidate for the post of President of the European Commission. This has caused the Union of European Federalists (UEF) to say that the PES has accepted the re-nomination of Christian Democrat José Manuel Barroso. “Considering the proximity of the European Parliament elections, the political parties send a mixed signal to the electorate if they effectively pre-empt the choice of Commission President before a single vote has been cast,” says UEF President Andrew Duff in a press release issued on Monday 1 December. On the same day, on the sidelines of the PES Congress in Madrid, federalist activists demanded that the June 2009 elections be linked to the nomination of the next Commission President. They hope that European political parties will make it clear who they support for this post. (A.B./transl.rt)