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And then they go and pull von der Leyen out of the hat. With all due respect, if the EU is that important then the EU commission must not be the thrift shop of settled mediocrity. Just where did Macron get the idea? He doesn't know her - ignorance will no longer be bliss. Schengen is toast!
There was talk, at one stage, of combining the two roles to create a "President of Europe" to answer the Kissinger question of who do you talk to in Europe if you need a quick decision on an urgent matter; but I suspect that idea was abandoned when they realized it would have to be a directly elected position if it were ever to gain much legitimacy. One look at the US system of electing presidents would have been enough to put them off that idea.
But it is clear that while the position of President of the Council is reserved for a current or former prime minister or President and member of the Council, almost any cabinet minister of a major power has a chance of becoming President of the Commission. Of the 12 Presidents of the Commission prior to VDL since 1967, only Barroso and Prodi were previously Prime Ministers (Italy have rather a lot) if you discount the two Prime Minsters of Luxembourg - Santer and Juncker - who don't really count...
So a senior cabinet Minster of a major power is more or less par for the course for Commission President, while only Prime Ministers need apply for the Council job, even if they are often on the way out in their home countries... Index of Frank's Diaries
Shouldn't that be who do you talk to in the US?
Her recent support for a further Brexit extension might put her at odds with Macron though. Boris shows every sign of fluttering away what little time is left before end-October... Tusk's admonition not to waste the current extension shows every sign of being ignored. It will be ironic if the UK ends up being kicked out despite wanting a further extension. Only an imminent general election would be sufficient reason for Macron, I suspect. Index of Frank's Diaries
Macron's Symbolism of Quattre Julliet
or
European Defense Pact: Macron and Von Der Leyen
Related reading ...
○ U.S-Hungarian Relations: 4th of July Bash ○ Martin Selmayr 'Raus'
Center-right nominee becomes EU Commission President - counting the votes | Politico | Von der Leyen had the declared backing of the three mainstream, pro-EU groups -- the center-right European People's Party, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats (S&D), and the centrist-liberal Renew Europe group. However, the S&D group was sharply divided over whether to back von der Leyen, with the French, German, Austrian, Belgian, Dutch, and Greek delegations all saying in an internal group meeting that they would vote against her, according to a party official. The Spanish and Portuguese delegations, pressed by Prime Ministers Pedro Sánchez and António Costa, said they would vote in favor. In a sign of how thin and fragile her mandate appeared, she also immediately faced questions about the possibility that her majority, which included the support of some British MEPs, would effectively evaporate in the event that the U.K. completes its departure from the EU.
Von der Leyen had the declared backing of the three mainstream, pro-EU groups -- the center-right European People's Party, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats (S&D), and the centrist-liberal Renew Europe group.
However, the S&D group was sharply divided over whether to back von der Leyen, with the French, German, Austrian, Belgian, Dutch, and Greek delegations all saying in an internal group meeting that they would vote against her, according to a party official. The Spanish and Portuguese delegations, pressed by Prime Ministers Pedro Sánchez and António Costa, said they would vote in favor.
In a sign of how thin and fragile her mandate appeared, she also immediately faced questions about the possibility that her majority, which included the support of some British MEPs, would effectively evaporate in the event that the U.K. completes its departure from the EU.
Miscalculation by Dutch PM Mark Rutte: an Atlanticist, conservative and long-time Theresa May supporter ...
○ News Analysis: Strong signal by northern eight unlikely to be game changer in eurozone reforms ○ Due to Brexit, smaller countries fear French and German dominance 'Sapere aude'
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