European Council President Charles Michel informed he will run as a candidate in the European Parliament elections in June, according to Politico.
With Charles Michel possibly taking her seat in the European Parliament in the middle of July, the implications could be quite different. For instance, it could mean that EU leaders will have to quickly agree on a successor to the vacated Council post, and if they do not, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will run the meetings.
Most of the other 26 EU leaders will be desperate to avoid this development, given the tense situation between them and Orbán.
This is the first time that a sitting Council President will be a candidate in the European Parliament elections. Normally, Michel would have remained in office until the end of November, when a new College of Commissioners would be formed.
After parliamentary elections, which will take place in all 27 EU countries from 6-9 June, European leaders are due to meet on 17 June and again on 27-28 June to try to come to an agreement on Michel’s replacement, although the role of Council chief is usually part of a protracted bargaining between political factions after the election results become clear and they try to divide up the various top EU posts among themselves.
Michel did not elaborate on whether his decision to run for parliament meant he would be interested in other leadership positions.
