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Eight Former Socialist leaders call for challenger to Barroso

The European Voice is reporting on an open letter issued by eight former leaders: Socialists need to seize a “unique” opportunity to bring about a “new growth model with more sustainable development and social justice”.

Eight former Socialist leaders including ex-German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Spain’s Felipe González and French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin have called on the Party of European Socialists to put up a candidate to challenge José Manuel Barroso for the post of president of the next European Commission.

Follow the debate on the Commission Presidency

Here you will find frequently updated links to the discussion about the next Commission President:

  • 02/06 Eight Former Socialist leaders call for challenger to Barroso Eight former Socialist leaders including ex-German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Spain’s Felipe González and French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin have called on the Party of European Socialists to put up a candidate to challenge José Manuel Barroso for the post of president of the next European Commission.
  • 20/05 Simon Hix is a leading expert of the European Parliament and European elections: Barroso Commission President? I still think it’s 50-50. (Question to Simon Hix: What do you think is the main reason for the low turnout in the European elections? Answer Simon Hix: There would be much more at stake if it was a battle about the European Commission presidency or if the majority in the European Parliament had much more power. Question to Simon Hix: Do you see this coming in this election? Answer Simon Hix: We might see it this time, but after the elections. People do not realize it, but it is not clear that Barroso, the current President of the European Commission, will get re-elected. I still think it’s 50-50. Particularly if there is a breakaway group from the EPP on the right, led by the British Conservatives with about 60 or 70 MEPs. They probably won’t back Barroso. The Liberals won’t back Barroso. It looks like they would want Guy Verhofstadt. Verhofstadt has just written a book and it is basically his manifesto for the Commission Presidency. The Spanish Socialists, the Portuguese Socialists, the British Labour and the EPP all back Barroso. But together, they do not have a majority in the European Parliament. So he may loose in July. And if that happens, they will have to come up with another name: it could be Rasmussen versus Verhofstadt. And then people would realize: Why don’t they discuss that before the elections?) Read the rest of this entry »