European Parliament elections 2009 (103): No PES candidate before the elections

In a move to end speculations, the President of the European Socialists, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, has issued a press release stating that the PES is definitely against Barroso but will not have an own candidate for the European Commission presidency prior to the elections:

I would have preferred the PES to have a candidate for the President of the European Commission, but we do not, and we will not before the elections. Who becomes President of the European Commission now depends on the result of the European elections. This is the one thing that everyone agrees – Governments are free to nominate who they like - the shape of the new Parliament will determine the next President of the Commission. If there is a new majority in the European Parliament Barroso will not become Commission President.

This is what I expected at this time of the campaign, and, even though for the true democratic character of the elections a PES candidate would have been an important factor, I don't think that at this stage the Socialists do not have any other possibility than to run just on issues.

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Under the category "European parliament elections 2009" I am following up national and European activities on the path to the European Parliament elections 2009.

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