Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ruled out any scenario of seeking the top EU post after the European elections in June, stating that his only goal was to lead his country, according to Euractiv.
By issuing his statement, Mitsotakis has denied growing rumours in several European media outlets that he may be eyeing the EU’s top post after the European elections, including that of Commission President, if Ursula von der Leyen fails to gain enough support for the second mandate.
How many times do I have to say […] that for me, there is absolutely no issue?
He added in an interview with Skai TV on Thursday, April 25, that being prime minister of Greece was “the greatest honour” for him. However, he acknowledged that discussions about the EU post could be “to a certain extent flattering and honourable.”
In late January, Mitsotakis, along with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk, nominated von der Leyen as the leading candidate of the European People’s Party (EPP), the largest group in the European Parliament and the strongest political faction in the Council of Europe.
Political experts described the move as an encouraging message for von der Leyen. A similar rumour concerned Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, who was mentioned as a potential candidate for the Commission’s presidency.
Plenković confirmed that he would be the leading candidate of the conservative HDZ (EPP) party in the European elections on June 6-9 “to support our candidates so we can win again.”
