BELGIUM: European People's Party candidate Jean-Claude Juncker claims right to head EU Commission

Record ID: 695378

  • Title: BELGIUM: European People's Party candidate Jean-Claude Juncker claims right to head EU Commission
  • Date: 26th May 2014
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (MAY 25, 2014) (REUTERS) FORMER LUXEMBOURG PRIME MINISTER AND EUROPEAN PEOPLE'S PARTY (EPP) CANDIDATE FOR THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENCY JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER ARRIVING AT EPP HEADQUARTERS VARIOUS OF JUNCKER SUPPORTERS CHEERING, HOLDING SIGNS, READING (English): "Juncker for President" JUNCKER WAVING AT SUPPORTERS JUNCKER ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER LUXEMBOURG PRIME MINISTER AND EPP CANDIDATE FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) COMMISSION PRESIDENCY, JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER, SAYING: "As we did win these elections, I feel fully entitled to become the next president of the European Commission. This was not the only issue about when the Europeans went to polls today, but it is a particular issue provoking some interest as far as I am concerned and so I am very happy about this result." SIGN, READING: "EPP European People's Party Jean-Claude Juncker" JUNCKER LEAVING CONFERENCE ROOM CROATIAN EPP MEMBER HOLDING BACKDROP REPRESENTING JUNCKER MEN STANDING BY SCREEN DISPLAYING EU ELECTION RESULTS IN FRANCE AND GERMANY
  • Embargoed: 10th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: European Union,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAC6WUZ6FLPD2NNV58DGHRUR2Y6
  • Story Text: Former Luxembourg Prime Minister and leading candidate of the European People's Party Jean-Claude Juncker on Sunday (May 25) claimed right to lead the European Union's powerful executive body in Brussels after first results showed the centre-right parties were set to top the elections to the European Parliament.
    The first official projection issued by the EU legislature showed 211 seats out of 751 to go to the European People's Party (EPP), while Eurosceptic groups could get about 129 seats.
    The centre-left Socialists were seen in second place with 193 seats, while centrist liberal groups could get 74, Green parties 58 and the far left 47.
    Speaking at the EPP party headquarters in Brussels, Juncker claimed the right to replace Portugal's Jose Manuel Barroso as Commission president soon after the first projection of the results was announced.
    "As we did win these elections, I feel fully entitled to become the next president of the European Commission. This was not the only issue about when the Europeans went to polls today, but it is a particular issue provoking some interest as far as I am concerned and so I am very happy about this result," Juncker said to the cheers of his supporters.
    But his main rival, the leading candidate of the Socialists and Democrats, Martin Schulz, objected to Juncker's claim to the Brussels' top job. He said the EPP had lost sixty seats compared to the previous elections and should not be seen as winners.
    "My suggestion is that all people speak to each other on the basis of political content. One thing is clear - the EPP is losing sixty seats in the parliament and another thing is clear as well, without an agreement with a Social Democratic group in the parliament no majority is possible," Schulz, the current president of the European Parliament said.
    Who will end up as EU Commission president is far from an open and shut case. The Socialists & Democrats may well get support from other parties on the left and claim they have a broader mandate for their front-runner.
    Ultimately, it is up to EU heads of state and government to nominate a candidate for the Commission post, which must then be approved by a simple majority in parliament.
    EU leaders may also look elsewhere for a nominee. Britain is staunchly opposed to either Juncker or Schulz and other member states have expressed reservations.
    Parliament leaders will meet on the morning of May 27 to discuss the election results and the Commission presidency, and EU leaders will do the same at a summit on the evening of the same day. But it is expected to take several weeks before leaders decide on a name to put to a parliamentary vote.
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