Brussels, 06/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - By announcing that he was withdrawing from the contest for the post of President of the European Parliament, Italian MEP Mario Mauro has left the way open for his Polish colleague Jerzy Buzek (Civic Platform), who is now the only candidate from this political family. In a press release published on Sunday 5 July, Mauro says he does not want to divide the EPP by forcing a vote on who from the group would stand as the replacement of Hans-Gert Pöttering. Mauro also explained that he was making this “act of responsibility” so that people did not lose further confidence in the European project. “Forcing the Group to vote on Tuesday next could produce unnecessary divisions in our political family at the most delicate phase of the legislature: at a time when we need to clearly indicate our political goals in the interests of European citizens,” he said.
In a separate press release, EPP Parliamentary group leader Joseph Daul thanked Mauro “for agreeing to with draw his candidature in a spirit of compromise and solidarity”. After talks with the President of the Italian Council, Silvio Berlusconi, Daul said he asked Mauro to withdraw to facilitate Former Polish Prime Minsters Buzek's elevation to the head of the EP. “Once again, Silvio Berlusconi and his party have demonstrated their commitment to the values of a responsible and united Europe,” said Daul, welcoming “the positive signal given by the Italian PDL, which will enable our Group, the most influential political Group in the European Parliament, to nominate in a climate of great calm, our candidate for President of the European Parliament”. (A.B./transl.rt)