by afew
Thu Jun 25th, 2009 at 08:40:26 AM EST
Euractiv tells us (caveat, on the strength of undisclosed "sources") that a "large majority of MEPs" is against holding a July vote on the candidature of José Manuel Barroso for a new mandate as European Commission president. In other words, they want to wait till the new parliament is sworn in in the autumn. This is not yet a declaration of majority intent to oppose Barroso, but it looks as if the EPP (conservative) that backs Barroso, and Council (the governments of the member states) that unanimously proposed his candidature, are going to have a hard time pushing through a quick vote in July.
EurActiv.com - No majority in Parliament for Barroso vote | EU - European Information on EU Elections 09
On 9 July, the European Parliament's conference of presidents will vote on whether to hold the secret vote on Barroso in mid-July, as the centre-right has been insisting for several months now (EurActiv 20/03/09), the group's chair Joseph Daul told journalists on Wednesday (24 June). The decision in the conference of presidents is taken by simple vote, representing the number of MEPs within each group: the EPP can count on 264 votes, as well as on the support of the newly formed anti-federalist group (EurActiv 23/06/09), which has 56 MEPs, Daul indicated.
But this total of 320 MEPS falls short of the simple majority of 368 votes required to back Barroso. Therefore the EPP will invite, in separate moves, the centre-left Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in Europe (PASDE) and ALDE to join. In exchange, it would offer its support for the European Parliament presidency for a two-and-a half year period...
Euractiv quotes ALDE leader Graham Watson:
EurActiv.com - No majority in Parliament for Barroso vote | EU - European Information on EU Elections 09
Outgoing ALDE group Leader Graham Watson issued a written statement after his group had met on 24 June in Watson's constituency in Bristol, South West England.
"Unlike the Socialists and the Greens, ALDE is not resolutely opposed to a vote in July. While Liberal Democrat prime ministers have pronounced themselves in favour of a vote for Mr. Barroso in July, opinion among leading ALDE MEPs is varied. ALDE would wish to see a number of conditions fulfilled before such a vote could be taken. Nonetheless, a consensus exists that we should engage in discussions with other Groups to secure the best outcome for the European Union," Watson stated.
But, according to EUractiv:
EurActiv.com - No majority in Parliament for Barroso vote | EU - European Information on EU Elections 09
At an internal meeting held in Bristol on 23 and 24 June, the European Liberals decided to vote against holding the Barroso vote on 15 July, party sources said. It appeared that this was the minimal level of agreement that the group could reach, as in fact the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) is seriously divided between supporters and opponents of having the outgoing Commission president reappointed for another five years.
The sources added that the French ALDE-affiliated MoDem, led by François Bayrou (six MEPs), and more importantly the German FDP, with its 12 MEPs, as well as some of the 11 British Liberal Democrats strongly oppose Barroso and do not want a vote on 15 July.
Barroso's automatic re-appointment is looking less and less automatic.
