Manfred Weber last night branded EU leaders and MEPs undemocratic after blocking his coronation as European Commission president. The German MEP, who is the bookmakers’ favourite to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker, accused socialist and liberal politicians of ignoring last month’s European election results. Mr Weber, the European People’s Party Spitzenkandidat, should have been made the EU’s most senior official after his bloc won the most MPs in the vote. Daily Express reports in its article EU is 'undemocratic!' Brussels row erupts as Merkel's man's blocked from replacing Juncker that the German has failed to secure a majority in the European Parliament to support his accession to the Commission presidency.
Mr Weber said: “I really hope that the socialist and liberal MEPs show that they stand for Parliamentary democracy in Europe. “It would be tragic if they put the interest of some capitals above the interest of a newly elected, strong European Parliament.” He added: “The European Parliament, as the people’s representative of 500 million Europeans, has a great responsibility. There is a danger that the urgently needed democratisation of the EU will be strongly diminished. Now is the moment for Parliament to act.”
At a two-day European Council summit in Brussels last week, EU leaders also voiced concerns about Mr Weber being handed the top job. French President Emmanuel Macron led the charge for finding a alternative as Mr Weber’s candidacy was discarded. Mr Weber also accused the EU leaders and their closest aides for doing a “backroom” deal to avoid the so-called Spitzenkandidat.
The German said: “Citizens sent a clear signal by voting in the European elections. The turnout rose massively, in some places it doubled. “It would be very disappointing now if major decisions in the European Union would take place in diplomats’ back rooms.”
Mr Macron is the most influential leader looking to ditch the Spitzenkandidat system in order to hand EU leaders the right to choose the Commission president. The process, which was first used to appoint Mr Juncker in 2014, says the lead candidate from the largest European Parliament party should take the Commission presidency.
Late on Thursday night, EU leaders decided they would meet again on June 30 to once again try and find a majority for a candidate. Mr Juncker joked: “I note with satisfaction, amusement and, yes, pleasure that it seems it is not easy to replace me.” German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who supports Mr Weber, said: “We need a common solution and therefore I am against the Council making a proposal that the Parliament does not support.” Mr Macron said: “I’m not locked up in any specific scheme, and our aim is to make emerge the best team for Europe.”
European Council President Donald Tusk will meet Parliament leaders today in the hope of finding a consensus candidate. But the most hope on a deal being brokered is if Ms Merkel and Mr Macron can reach a backroom agreement at the G20 summit in Japan this week. Mr Tusk, Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, Theresa May, the Prime Minister, and Giuseppe Conte, the Italian prime minister, will also be in attendance at the gathering of global leaders. A breakthrough would allow the EU28 to make a decision over dinner in Brussels late this week, ahead of the first European Parliament session on July 2.
