Current Situation: Poland Set for Second Term as EU President; Ireland Endorses "Unanimous Consent"
Germany's Federal Chancellor, Olaf Scholz from the SPD party, expressed his backing for CDU politician, Ursula von der Leyen, to serve a second term as EU Commission President. In an interview with Sender Welt, Scholz mentioned that all signs point towards another term for von der Leyen. ARD also quoted him saying that she'd need to rely on "mainstream parties, not far-right parties" in the European Parliament as a prerequisite.
Additionally, Donald Tusk, a former EU Council President, voiced his approval for Estonia's Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, as the possible new EU Foreign Policy Chief. Tusk's office stated that Kallas possesses a deep understanding of the situation in Russia and Ukraine and shares Poland's perspective.
The European People's Party (EVP), led by the CDU and CSU, was the most powerful force in the elections, with von der Leyen as the leading candidate (Spitzenkandidat). They require a qualified majority of 15 heads of state and government, representing at least 65% of the European population.
As for the upcoming EU Council President position, former Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, is under discussion. No definitive decisions are anticipated before the upcoming EU summit on June 27 and 28.
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- Leyen: Germany's Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz from the SPD party supports Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as EU Commission President.
- EU: Scholz mentioned that all signs point towards another term for von der Leyen, requiring a qualified majority in the European Parliament.
- Term of office: The European People's Party (EVP), led by the CDU and CSU, had von der Leyen as the leading candidate (Spitzenkandidat) in the elections, requiring a majority of 15 heads of state and government.
- Poland: No definitive decisions for the upcoming EU Council President position are anticipated before the EU summit on June 27 and 28, with former Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, under discussion.
- SPD: In an interview with Sender Welt, Scholz mentioned that von der Leyen would need to rely on "mainstream parties, not far-right parties," as a prerequisite for her term.
- From: Donald Tusk, a former EU Council President, voiced his approval for Estonia's Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, as the possible new EU Foreign Policy Chief.
- CDU: Tusk's office stated that Kallas has a deep understanding of the situation in Russia and Ukraine and shares Poland's perspective.
- Irish endorsement: Meanwhile, Ireland endorsed the "unanimous consent" approach in the EU Council presidency, with Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Health, expressing his support.
- ARD: ARD also quoted Scholz saying that von der Leyen needs to rely on mainstream parties for her term in the European Parliament, as far-right parties are not an option.
