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… and all lived happily until the end of their days. This conclusion can be drawn after the two-day Congress of the European People's Party, during which the main candidate of the EPP in the European elections was elected in May 2019. The autumn tale of Helsinki, which is 39, which was completed yesterday, brought to the EPP an undeniable winner, a sporty loser, a conciliatory finale, in which the two best-selling Queens rivals hit "One Vision" and "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge. in arms – and in Europe a relatively high probability that the next President of the European Commission will come from Bavaria.
Yesterday, the EPP had the choice between Manfred Weber, Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, and Alexander Stubb, former Prime Minister of Finland. The tension was kept within narrow limits. Although the 46-year-old CSU politician had not yet been a government official, he had previously secured the support of the main European sister parties. For Stubb, only the Balts and Scandinavians were decided. The Finn, despite an intense and enthusiastic campaign, failed to make Weber dangerous: only 127 EPP delegates voted for him yesterday, while his rival had 492 votes.
Thus, the EPP with Weber in the race for the post of President of the European Commission. The road leading to the Berlaymont office complex, headquarters of the Brussels authorities, is still far away. However, the chances of success are good, thanks in particular to the preparatory work of Jean-Claude Juncker, elected the first successful candidate of the EPP after the 2014 European elections, against the opposition of various European leaders (including British Prime Minister David Cameron) to the Commission. The repetition of this precedent in 2019 depends on one hand from the majority in the European Parliament and on the other hand from the EU Member States. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP), who supported him in September, at least badumed in Helsinki that the "ideal candidate principle" would be respected in the coming year.
Out for negotiations with Turkey
How will Weber apply, what content does he want to define? The debate between the two candidates in the lead on the eve of the vote and Weber's speech on polling day provided the first clues. Bayer is presented as a bridge between the "old" and the "new" Member States, between net contributors and net beneficiaries, highlighting the role of the EPP in combating the consequences of the financial and economic crisis. the euro crisis, promising secure external borders and ending the EU accession negotiations with Turkey and a Marshall Plan for Africa.
The essential difference between Weber and Stubb prior to the elections was the "enfant terrible" of the European People's Party, as stated by EPP President Joseph Daul – Viktor Orbán. Stubb has been campaigning to force Orbán to leave the EPP, while Weber wants to keep the Hungarians in his family. However, given the ongoing criticism of European core values in Hungary, Weber seems to badume that the problem of the EPP – and the EU – will persist even after the European elections. As President of the European Commission, he will propose a mechanism to guarantee the rule of law in the EU, promised Bayer. However, the accession to the EPP of the Hungarian ruling party, Fidesz, does not seem to be in danger, either before or after the European elections, because, firstly, Orbán Weber had promised to quickly support the main candidate and, secondly, , Fidesz strengthens the EPP faction in the European Parliament.
Orbán: "We are behind Weber"
The Hungarian Prime Minister replied in his speech yesterday for his support: "We support Weber" because Weber knows that "what time is the moment of debate and when is the moment of unity", has said Orbán. In addition, in the next elections, the EPP will depend on the Prime Minister's strength – an allusion to the fence post to Hungary, where Fidesz has put all his rivals in power and put all the critical media in power.
Aside from Weber's encouragement, Helsinki left unanswered the question of how Europe in general and the EPP in particular should rise to the illiberal challenge – and signal the beginning of this challenge. Democracy and the rule of law are not negotiable, said Chancellor Kurz in his speech, while the chairman of the Council, Donald Tusk, said that praise for Vladimir Putin and scorn of free media are not not Christian Democratic positions. However, nobody has drawn concrete red lines not to be exceeded within the EPP, including Weber, who considers his role as lead candidate and president of the European Commission to better explain the benefits of the EPP. Europe to European citizens and highlight the achievements of his party. "We do not need socialists and liberals to tell us what Europe needs, we, Christian Democrats, have created Europe," Weber said. The applause of his party colleagues was so sure as the Amen in prayer.
("Die Presse", printed edition, 9.11.2018)
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