HomeLive CommentsEU to decide next Commission and ECB Presidents in June

EU to decide next Commission and ECB Presidents in June

EU28 leaders agreed to have swift process on choosing the next European Commission and ECB Presidents in a meeting overnight. The decision would be made at a June 20-21 summit. But for now, Germany and France seem to be at odds over the choices. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is standing by the center-right German lawmaker Manfred Weber to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker and Commission President. But Weber is seen as is failing to gain traction. French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to be pushing for Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as a compromise.

Macron told reporters after the summit that “the key for me is for the people at the most sensitive positions to share our project and be the most charismatic, creative and competent possible.” On the other hand, Merkel bluntly said “I am warning against telling the EU Parliament that somebody who has only made experiences in parliament is not experienced… And that somebody who has made experiences in the Commission, is experienced. We shouldn’t deal with each other in this currency.”

Meanwhile, at least five candidates are believed to be running to succeed Mario Draghi as ECB Presidents. Contenders include Bank of France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau, Finland’s Olli Rehn and Erkki Liikanen, and Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann. Chances of Weidmann and de Galhau will depend on who takes the Juncker’s job.

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