15 July: Juncker and his programme get MEPs’ backing
Two weeks after Martin Schulz’s election, the President of the Parliament led MEPs in backing his erstwhile rival, Jean-Claude Juncker, to be Commission President.
Most EPP, Socialist and Liberal MEPs were always likely to offer their support, with only a few delegations, such as the Spanish Socialists and Hungary’s centre-right Fidesz, breaking rank.
All three groups knew that backing Juncker would give them a share of power, and a share of key positions in the new Commission. They also knew that, with the Conservatives now the Parliament’s third-largest force, and a sizeable and noisy Eurosceptic or anti-EU bloc, a ‘grand coalition’ was the only game in town: the alternative was paralysis of the EU system.
Download our July briefing on Juncker’s programme (PDF)There were bumps in the road: for example, the Socialists pressed for investment, and for a Socialist to be economic and monetary affairs commissioner (something that the Liberals protested). Juncker toured all the political groups to reassure waverers or drum up additional support.
His candidacy was also underpinned by a ten-point programme for his Commission, mixing the key points of his EPP election platform, demands of the grand coalition partners, and the European Council’s own strategy paper.
Juncker was safely elected, winning 422 votes, well beyond the necessary absolute majority.
Categories: Review of the Year
