European Parliament Election: May 23-26, 2019

[Andrea]

Profiles of new MEPs now uploaded in Eu Parliament website

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/home

EPP 182 MEPs
S&D 53
Renew 108
Greens/EFA 74
I&D 73
ECR 62
GUE 41
Not attached 55

I think it tallies to 748 with the 3 Spanish seats held by Catalans who can't go to swear in Madrid held vacant

[Middle-aged Europe]

URSULA VON DER LEYEN?

Eyperience tells us that this attempt to install her as Commission President will fail, since Merkel's previous attempts to make VdL a) her own heir apparent and b) President of Germany (the job went instead to Christian Wulff who turned out a dud and was replaced by Gauck after two years) had failed. And that meant only going up against the CDU and not Viktor Orban and Matteo Salvini. That being said, the aforementioned creatures seem to remain pretty silent on the VdL nomination issue so far. Is it because they're already tired of this sh**t and consider successfully vetoing Timmermans and Vestager as a win they should better take home now? Still somewhat ironic if we end up with a 100% Merkel loyalist as Commission President. To bad it's also someone way past her (political) prime.

[Anzeigenhauptmeister]

URSULA VON DER LEYEN?

Eyperience tells us that this attempt to install her as Commission President will fail, since Merkel's previous attempts to make VdL a) her own heir apparent and b) President of Germany (the job went instead to Christian Wulff who turned out a dud and was replaced by Gauck after two years) had failed. And that meant only going up against the CDU and not Viktor Orban and Matteo Salvini. That being said, the aforementioned creatures seem to remain pretty silent on the VdL nomination issue so far. Is it because they're already tired of this sh**t and consider successfully vetoing Timmermans and Vestager as a win they should better take home now? Still somewhat ironic if we end up with a 100% Merkel loyalist as Commission President. To bad it's also someone way past her (political) prime.

Remember when Merkel shunted anglicist and computer scientist Günther Oettinger off to the EU Commission? That institution is merely a trash dump for incompetent, workshy politicians.

[President Johnson]

It's official now:

https://twitter.com/tagesschau/status/1146104487855177728


Honestly, what a disgrace. The last thing the EU needs is someone who has already demonstrated her gross incompetence in German politics. Also very disrespectful to the voters, whom voted for the top-candidates. Weber or Timmermanns should get it.

[Middle-aged Europe]

When the European Council formally nominated Von der Leyen for the post, Germany abstained due to the SPD's opposition to her. *LOL*


So, will the SPD rally the Socialist & Democrats Group to block VdL in the EP now?

[Swedish Rainbow Capitalist Cheese]

Also very disrespectful to the voters, whom voted for the top-candidates. Weber or Timmermanns should get it.

Don't be ridiculous. The number of European voters who cared or even knew about the spitzenkandidaten are negligible. I'm a political nerd and probably belongs to a group of at most 1% of Swedish voters who even know who Weber or Timmermanns are and even I had to google them to remember what they actually look like. Outside of Germany and the Netherlands I'm pretty sure they're about as well known as they are here and people voted for their national parties because of their policies and their national candidates.

I'm not particularly impressed by Von der Leyen (it feels like its just more of the same terrible Junker-leadership and ideals) but thinking that Weber or Timmermanns has more of a mandate to become Commission President is not grounded in reality.

[Zinneke]

Also very disrespectful to the voters, whom voted for the top-candidates. Weber or Timmermanns should get it.

Don't be ridiculous. The number of European voters who cared or even knew about the spitzenkandidaten are negligible. I'm a political nerd and probably belongs to a group of at most 1% of Swedish voters who even know who Weber or Timmermanns are and even I had to google them to remember what they actually look like. Outside of Germany and the Netherlands I'm pretty sure they're about as well known as they are here and people voted for their national parties because of their policies and their national candidates.

I'm not particularly impressed by Von der Leyen (it feels like its just more of the same terrible Junker-leadership and ideals) but thinking that Weber or Timmermanns has more of a mandate to become Commission President is not grounded in reality.

Then we need transnational lists.

[Middle-aged Europe]

As it is summarized by Politico:

The Council’s choice of von der Leyen may face stiff resistance in the European Parliament. To take effect, the nomination requires approval by an absolute majority of the Parliament's 751 members.

Von der Leyen is under a cloud of allegations of misspending and mismanagement of contracts back home, tied to the hiring of two consulting firms, McKinsey and Accenture.

She may also face questions about her overall job performance at the defense ministry, given widespread criticism of the German military as being in relatively poor shape compared to other NATO allies.

Mathematically, she could make it through the EP with the support of the EPP, "Renew Europe" (turning their group's name in a bit of a misnomer), and about half of the S&D (assuming that the SPD will vote "no").

[Swedish Rainbow Capitalist Cheese]

Also very disrespectful to the voters, whom voted for the top-candidates. Weber or Timmermanns should get it.

Don't be ridiculous. The number of European voters who cared or even knew about the spitzenkandidaten are negligible. I'm a political nerd and probably belongs to a group of at most 1% of Swedish voters who even know who Weber or Timmermanns are and even I had to google them to remember what they actually look like. Outside of Germany and the Netherlands I'm pretty sure they're about as well known as they are here and people voted for their national parties because of their policies and their national candidates.

I'm not particularly impressed by Von der Leyen (it feels like its just more of the same terrible Junker-leadership and ideals) but thinking that Weber or Timmermanns has more of a mandate to become Commission President is not grounded in reality.

Then we need transnational lists.

I actually agree. If the EP is really going to establish itself as the major governing body of the union and for voters to be able to hold it properly accountable the parliamentary groups needs to convert from loose coalitions of very different national parties to proper parties with a united agenda.

However that is not the system we have today so pretending the spitzenkandidaten somehow actually matter is just silly. A lot of voters don't even know which group the party they vote for will end up in as several parties switch around after the election.

[Grand Wizard Lizard of the Klan]

Currently in Poland: PiS is pushing hard narrative that German candidate from CDU as EC president is somehow sign of end of Germany-France dominance and Poland great position (because they blocked Timmermans).

[DavidB.]

Really happy Timmermans wasn't picked for the EC presidency. Strong signal: if you push mass immigration on Central and Eastern Europe and seek to curtail their sovereignty, you pay a heavy political price. The next round of European Commissioners should take note. Orbán, PiS and M5S-Lega won this one.

Von der Leyen was an utterly incompetent minister and was imposed by the heads of government rather than through the Spitzenkandidaten process, which was always a sham. As long as the EU exists, the heads of government should clearly stand above the EU Commission, so that's a good thing. And we were always going to get a terrible Eurofederalist. Better to have an incompetent one who committed plagiarism while writing her thesis instead of a competent, clear-sighted, ideologically insane one like Timmermans.

[Andrea]

Nominations for EU Parliament president:

Ska KELLER (Greens, Germany)
Sira REGO (GUE, Spain)
David-Maria SASSOLI (S&D, Italy)
Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, Czech Republic)


Elections to be held tomorrow

After 3 ballots, only top 2 will go to 4th ballot

[brucejoel99]

R.I.P. Spitzenkandidaten, 2014-2019

[bigic]

Nominations for EU Parliament president:

Ska KELLER (Greens, Germany)
Sira REGO (GUE, Spain)
David-Maria SASSOLI (S&D, Italy)
Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, Czech Republic)


Elections to be held tomorrow

After 3 ballots, only top 2 will go to 4th ballot

No Stanishev (S&D, Bulgaria)?

[Andrea]

Nominations for EU Parliament president:

Ska KELLER (Greens, Germany)
Sira REGO (GUE, Spain)
David-Maria SASSOLI (S&D, Italy)
Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, Czech Republic)


Elections to be held tomorrow

After 3 ballots, only top 2 will go to 4th ballot

No Stanishev (S&D, Bulgaria)?

Indeed. The EU Parliament president was supposed to be from Eastern European Socialists according to the "top jobs" package...but looks like S&D is angry enough tonight to ignore them.

[Anzeigenhauptmeister]

I wonder if the Germanism Spitzenkandidat will become establish in the English language one day.
Americans love German words containing a z. 🤗

[Anzeigenhauptmeister]

In what matters way more in my opinion, Lagarde will become head of the ECB and the PM of Belgium Charles Michel will be Council President. Also is this just a way to open the defence ministry for AKK?
No idea if s&d fraction will go along with this, but if they dont there is no chance she will be confirmed.

Nooooooo!!! How dare you! I hope Merkel won't read your comment.
On the other hand, it can't get much worse than now, though, and we would finally get rid of Uschi.
And AKK reminds me of my deputy instructor during my conscription, anyway.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Also is this just a way to open the defence ministry for AKK?

AKK has already declined.

[Anzeigenhauptmeister]

Also is this just a way to open the defence ministry for AKK?

AKK has already declined.

Who do you predict will become Uschi's successor? Her predecessor Thomas de Maizière?

[Former President tack50]

Horrible decision from the EU

While I wanted Timmermans (or Vestager I guess) why kill the spitzenkandidat process just to install another CDU politician?

I'd much rather have Manfred Weber over von der Leyen; at least that would give the EU a bit more democratic legitimacy and keep the spizenkandidat process alive for a couple more years.

I can only hope the EU parliament rejects this but it's probably not happening. Only silver lining seems to be Josep Borrell as "EU Foreign minister" (basically the top diplomat). He has done a good job, but still.

[Zinneke]

Horrible decision from the EU

While I wanted Timmermans (or Vestager I guess) why kill the spitzenkandidat process just to install another CDU politician?

I'd much rather have Manfred Weber over von der Leyen; at least that would give the EU a bit more democratic legitimacy and keep the spizenkandidat process alive for a couple more years.

I can only hope the EU parliament rejects this but it's probably not happening. Only silver lining seems to be Josep Borrell as "EU Foreign minister" (basically the top diplomat). He has done a good job, but still.

Borrell is a terrible choice. Imagine him trying to call out the likes of China for their behaviour in Hong Kong? They'll just show him the pictures of Spanish police's disproportionate response to Catalan "voters" in the sham referendum.

[Andrea]

Round 1

Ska KELLER (Greens, Germany) 133 votes
Sira REGO (GUE, Spain) 42
David-Maria SASSOLI (S&D, Italy) 325
Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, Czech Republic) 162

73 blanc or invalid

Majority required was 332

New ballot now

[Andrea]

Round 2

Ska KELLER (Greens, Germany) 119 (-14)
Sira REGO (GUE, Spain) 43 (+1)
David-Maria SASSOLI (S&D, Italy) 345 (+20)
Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, Czech Republic) 160 (-2)

Sassoli is elected

[Middle-aged Europe]

Former SPD chairman and vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel has demanded that his party should leave Merkel's coalition over the Von der Leyen nomination.

[Andrea]

Result of first ballot for 14 Vice Presidents

331 required

Mairead McGUINNESS (Ireland, Fine Gael) 618 ELECTED
Rainer WIELAND (Germany, CDU) 516 ELECTED
Othmar KARAS (Austria, People's Party) 477 ELECTED
Ewa Bożena KOPACZ (Poland, Civic Platform) 461 ELECTED
Lívia JÁRÓKA (Hungary, Fidesz) 349 ELECTED

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA (Portugal, Socialists) 556 ELECTED
Katarina BARLEY (Germany, SDP) 516 ELECTED
Klara DOBREV (Hungary, Democratica Coalition) 402 ELECTED

Dita CHARANZOVÁ (Czech Republic, ANO) 395 ELECTED
Nicola BEER (Germany, FDP) 363 ELECTED

Heidi HAUTALA (Finland, Greens) 336 ELECTED
Marcel KOLAJA (Czech Rep, Pirates) 237

Laura HUHTASAARI (Finland, True Finns) 135
Mara BIZZOTTO (Italy, Lega) 130

Zdzisław KRASNODĘBSKI (Poland, Civic Platform) 169

Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS (Greece, Syrza) 303

Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, 5 Stars) 143

3 still to be elected...

new ballot at 6.30 PM