About: Spitzenkandidaten
Socialists entrust Timmermans to replace Juncker at EU helm
Europe’s socialist parties on Saturday (8 December) chose Dutch politician Frans Timmermans to lead them in May elections and to succeed his boss Jean-Claude Juncker as head of the European Commission. Delegates voted in Timmermans, currently first vice president of the EU’s powerful...
Bulgarian socialist leader snubs PES forum in Lisbon
Kornelia Ninova, the leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), announced on Thursday (6 December) she would not attend the Party of European Socialists congress in Lisbon, citing her ideological differences with the PES president, compatriot Sergei Stanishev.
‘Progressive alliance’ moves a step closer ahead of EU elections
The leaders of the Social Democrats (S&D), Greens and leftist group (GUE/NGL) sat for the first time at the same table to discuss the possibility of a common strategy ahead of the EU elections in May to face down the rise of far-right and neoliberal forces.
EU needs ‘Great Review’ of powers, says ECR’s Zahradil
No EU agency can replace the role of member states, said Czech MEP Jan Zahradil, putting a ‘Great Review’ of EU powers at the heart of the manifesto for his European Conservative and Reformist (ECR) party, launched on Wednesday (28 November)
European Greens refuse to march behind Macron’s party
Although the European Greens and La République en Marche! (LREM) share common views on the European project, these should be promoted in a partnership of equals, Greens co-chair Reinhard Bütikofer told EURACTIV in an interview.
ECR puts forward Czech MEP as their Spitzenkandidat nominee
Czech MEP Jan Zahradil will be the lead candidate of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) to run for the presidency of the next European Commission, party chief Syed Kamall announced on Tuesday (13 October).
Weber wins EPP Spitzenkandidat in landslide victory
German Manfred Weber was crowned Spitzenkandidat of the EPP, the European Parliament's largest party, on Thursday (8 November), after he swept to victory in a contest that saw ex-Finnish Prime minister Alexander Stubb win only 20% of the votes.
Timmermans to be Socialist Spitzenkandidat after Sefcovic withdraws
Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans will be the lead candidate of the Party of European Socialists in next year's EU elections, the party announced on Monday (5 November) after his rival Maroš Šefčovič withdrew from the race and backed the Dutchman instead.
Researcher: After the elections, the Commission will certainly be more colourful
Fears of the populist right seizing control of the European Parliament after the 2019 elections are greatly exaggerated, says Piotr Buras. But the new European Parliament and Commission that will come out of the election will certainly be more colourful, he says.
Salvini gets ready for Spitzenkandidaten battle
Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini is considering running for the presidency of the European Commission if a coalition of nationalist groups wins the next EU elections, he said in an interview Thursday (18 October).
Timmermans, the right-hand of Juncker, eyes EU throne
Frans Timmermans confirmed on Wednesday (10 October) that he wants to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission next year, dismissing concerns that he has made too many enemies to stand a fighting chance of succeeding his current boss.
Margrethe Vestager’s uncertain future in Brussels
Four years spent fighting against the monopoly of the US digital giants have given Margrethe Vestager political prominence. But due to a lack of support from Copenhagen for a second mandate, the competition Commissioner is expected to leave Brussels after the elections. EURACTIV France reports.
Stubb: A Macron-style candidate against the conservative Weber
The former Finnish Prime Minister, Alexander Stubb, wants to defend European values within the right-wing, and this approach may split the European People’s Party a bit more. EURACTIV France reports.
Austrian ex-chancellor Kern to run for centre-left Spitzenkandidat
As expected, opposition leader Christian Kern said yesterday (18 September) he would run as top candidate for the Austrian Social Democrats in the European Parliament elections next year, aiming to help build a strong counterweight to growing nationalist forces.
Sefcovic officially enters the Spitzenkandidaten battle
Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič announced officially on Monday (17 September) his candidacy to be the leading candidate of his social-democrat political group in the campaign for the 2019 European elections.
Macron seeks new ‘progressive’ coalition for 2019 European elections
French President Emmanuel Macron wants to shake up the EU political ecosystem, hoping to forge a new progressive alliance at the end of this year for the 2019 European Parliament elections, a source in his office said on Wednesday (5 September).
Spitzenkandidaten: A Bavarian on the Commission throne?
Only a few contributions from the ranks of the Bavarian CSU in recent months suggested their competence on European issues. Now one of them is aiming for the highest post Brussels has to offer. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Austria’s ex-Chancellor Kern as Spitzenkandidat?
Ahead of the 2019 European elections, there are considerations whether former Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern could become a Spitzenkandidat for the Austrian SPÖ for the European election campaign. EURACTIV Germany reports from Vienna.
Weber to announce candidacy focusing on migration
Blessed by Chancellor Angela Merkel and backed by big national delegations, Germany’s CSU heavyweight Manfred Weber is expected to soon confirm his candidacy for the post of the new European Commission president, with migration emerging as the top issue on his agenda.
Merkel chooses Weber as candidate for EU top job
Angela Merkel has given her backing to fellow German conservative Manfred Weber's bid to front the centre-right's campaign in next year's European Parliament elections, several German newspapers reported on Thursday (30 August).
Finns Stubb and Katainen leave door open to EU Commission top job
Former Finnish prime ministers Alexander Stubb and Jyrki Katainen left open the possibility on Saturday (9 June) that they would run to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as the EU executive’s president next year.
EU energy chief eyes Commission top job
Slovakia's member of the European Commission declared his candidacy on Monday (4 June) to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as the EU executive's president, promising to try to ease tensions between western states and newer members from the ex-communist east.
LREM’s first step towards the 2019 EU elections
En Marche will launch its “Grande Marche pour l’Europe” on the 24 March, the first step in its roadmap for the 2019 European elections. EURACTIV.fr reports