European Socialists Favor Nicolas Schmit as Candidate Against Ursula von der Leyen
Support from Spain and Germany positions Luxembourg's Nicolas Schmit as the preferred socialist candidate for the upcoming EU election.
Nicolas Schmit, a 70-year-old European Commissioner, emerges as the likely socialist choice to oppose Ursula von der Leyen in the EU election.
With endorsements from Germany's SPD and Spain's PSOE, Schmit is currently unopposed as the socialist nominee. The S&D group in the EU Parliament acknowledges his uncontested status.
Despite the Spitzenkandidat process, which aims to increase EU elections' democratic nature, the European Council ultimately appoints the Commission president.
Nonetheless, the absence of prominent socialist candidates complicates the search for von der Leyen's challenger. With the sidelining of key figures like Frans Timmermans and Maroš Šefčovič, and the suspension of Slovakia's Smer party, alternatives are limited.
Schmit, though lesser-known outside Brussels, points to his combined national and European political experience as qualifications for the role. The socialists, looking to claim the European Council presidency, consider Schmit's experience significant.
With the nomination deadline set for January 17, there's still room for potential contenders. The Party of European Socialists will formalize their candidate choice at their congress in Rome on March 2.
With endorsements from Germany's SPD and Spain's PSOE, Schmit is currently unopposed as the socialist nominee. The S&D group in the EU Parliament acknowledges his uncontested status.
Despite the Spitzenkandidat process, which aims to increase EU elections' democratic nature, the European Council ultimately appoints the Commission president.
Nonetheless, the absence of prominent socialist candidates complicates the search for von der Leyen's challenger. With the sidelining of key figures like Frans Timmermans and Maroš Šefčovič, and the suspension of Slovakia's Smer party, alternatives are limited.
Schmit, though lesser-known outside Brussels, points to his combined national and European political experience as qualifications for the role. The socialists, looking to claim the European Council presidency, consider Schmit's experience significant.
With the nomination deadline set for January 17, there's still room for potential contenders. The Party of European Socialists will formalize their candidate choice at their congress in Rome on March 2.