BRUSSELS – The EPP group leader in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber, will not be David Sassoli’s successor as President of the Assembly. This was confirmed by Weber himself, specifying that at this point he aspires to remain group leader and at the same time run for leadership of the Popular Party.
The choice of the German exponent, therefore, reopens the race to the chessboard of European positions which will have to be reassembled at the beginning of January. Offering a chance for the Italian Sassoli to remain in his place for the next 30 months. At the beginning of the legislature, in fact, the agreement provided for the Sassoli-Weber relay. This change, determined by the fact that Weber was not sure of obtaining sufficient votes, opens a door for the Italian representative. Also because the EPP and Germany could be over-represented in the palaces of Brussels taking into account that the Commission is led by the German popular Von Der Leyen, the Eurogroup by an Irish popular and the presidency of the European council is in the hands of the Belgian liberal Michel. The PSE, the second party of the Union, in short, risks being left without an important box. Situation that would be amplified if at the end of the month in Germany the CDU no longer holds the Chancellery.
Parliament and Council, the risk of European appointments: Sassoli in the running for an encore
by our correspondent Claudio Tito
Weber, however, recalls that his resignation does not mean that the EPP is giving up. In his opinion, the agreement at the beginning of the legislature provided for a changing of the guard between the PSE and the EPP at the top of Parliament. And not an exchange between people, Sassoli-Weber. In short, the popular will insist and choose their candidate in November. In pole position are the Maltese Metsola, the Dutch De Lange, the Spanish Gonzalez Pons and the Italian Tajani. In reality, the EPP is very divided, there is a fault between the countries of the north (De Lange, for example, is a real “hawk” very critical with the Mediterranean states) and those of the south. A rift on which Sassoli intends to play, who while not formalizing his candidacy for the stay is working precisely to continue the work at Palazzo Europa.
After all, in January there are many boxes to be renewed. In parliament also the presidencies of the commission. Italy currently has two, for the popular Tajani and the socialist Tinagli. Our country, after Brexit, however, aims to increase positions to at least three. The President of the European Council will also have to be renewed. The Belgian liberal Michel, despite the gaffe of the sofa in Turkey that exposed him to a clash with Von der Leyen, appears destined to be confirmed. Its main sponsor is the French president Macron.
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