Who is running to replace Juncker

As Jean-Claude Juncker’s tenure as European Commission president will end following May elections to the European Parliament, his successor will probably be chosen through the Spitzenkandidat — or lead candidate — system that was first tried out in 2014 and propelled Mr Juncker to the EU’s top job.

The FT explains that the process involves the big pan-European parliamentary groups each putting forward a top candidate for the commission presidency before the vote.

“The eventual winner must convince a qualified majority of leaders of EU national governments, the European Council, to nominate him or her for the commission post. Then, the nominee will need to command support from the newly elected parliament of MEPs, essentially by building a coalition of supportive groups. Not all of the European parliamentary groups have put forward a Spitzenkandidat, but several candidates have already emerged.”

These include:

• Manfred Weber – EUROPEAN PEOPLE’S PARTY
• Frans Timmermans – PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE OF SOCIALIST & DEMOCRATS
• Jan Zahradil – EUROPEAN CONSERVATIVES AND REFORMISTS
• Ska Keller and Bas Eickhout – EUROPEAN GREENS/EUROPEAN FREE ALLIANCE

via FT