European Parliament Election: May 23-26, 2019

[Helsinkian]

Even the Finnish Christian Democrats are supporting Weber over Stubb.

[Former President tack50]

Yeah, according to Europe Elects, Stubb is toast and Weber will almost certainly become the EPP candidate (and barring a major upset, EU Comission president)

[TheSaint250]

https://twitter.com/EuropeElects/status/1054730118931853313

[Former President tack50]

So it's official now, Puigdemont's party PDECat has been expelled from the ALDE party

https://www.politico.eu/article/alde-group-expels-catalan-separatist-party-carles-puigdemont-pdecat/

The question is now whether he'll get to remain in the ALDE parliamentary group (which isn't the same as the party) or not, and if they'll try to join the EDP euro party alongside the Basque PNV.

Euro parties have almost no relevance though, the important thing is the parliamentary group.

If after 2019 PDECat isn't allowed into ALDE, I imagine they'll try to join G-EFA, with a small chance of being rejected and having to join ECR (alongside N-VA) instead.

[Ethelberth]

There is speculation that the number of countries necessary to form a group shall be reduced in next parliament (four countries). For LREM and Five-star-men, that shall be good news.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

There is speculation that the number of countries necessary to form a group shall be reduced in next parliament (four countries). For LREM and Five-star-men, that shall be good news.

I think that would be a step in the right direcion. For some far-right / alt-right groups and the apparent split between Hamon / Syriza-led faction and LFI-faction it's a step in the right direction as well but i doubt it would be enough.

[Diouf]

Danish Conservatives supporting Weber

[Umengus]

France

Ifop poll (10/30-31, compared to last poll done end august)

RN: 20 (+3)
La rem + modem: 20 (=)
Les républicains : 14 (-1)
LFI : 11 (-3)

EELV: 7 (-0,5)
DLF: 6,5 (=)
PS: 6 (=)

Communist: 3 (+1)
Generations (Hamon): 3 (=)
UDI: 3 (+0,5)

UPR (asselineau): 1,5 % (+1)
NPA : 1 (-1)
Patriotes (Philippot): 1% (=)

If Segolene Royal leads the PS list, she would obtain 7,5 %.

[Diouf]

Sefcovic withdraws from Social Democrat spitzenkandidat race, and endorses Timmermans.

[DavidB.]

Of course Timmermans' real goal is not to lead the European Commission (virtually impossible as S&D's leading candidate given the abysmal polls for Social Democrats throughout Europe, but especially in France and Germany) but to be in pole position to succeed Mogherini as High Representative for Foreign Affairs. The question is whether the Dutch government is going to allow him to, given that the PvdA are in opposition and only have nine seats out of 150.

[Diouf]

Of course Timmermans' real goal is not to lead the European Commission (virtually impossible as S&D's leading candidate given the abysmal polls for Social Democrats throughout Europe, but especially in France and Germany) but to be in pole position to succeed Mogherini as High Representative for Foreign Affairs. The question is whether the Dutch government is going to allow him to, given that the PvdA are in opposition and only have nine seats out of 150.

Will he at least run for PvdA in the EP elections? If he does, and does very well, I guess that might help him a bit

[DavidB.]

Of course Timmermans' real goal is not to lead the European Commission (virtually impossible as S&D's leading candidate given the abysmal polls for Social Democrats throughout Europe, but especially in France and Germany) but to be in pole position to succeed Mogherini as High Representative for Foreign Affairs. The question is whether the Dutch government is going to allow him to, given that the PvdA are in opposition and only have nine seats out of 150.

Will he at least run for PvdA in the EP elections? If he does, and does very well, I guess that might help him a bit

I think he won't (but he could), and while I think it would be good for the PvdA if he ran (they could probably syphon off quite a lot of pro-European D66/GL voters - which could also piss off these parties), it would make him look more partisan rather than statesmanlike, which could be counterproductive as the government ultimately decides who the European Commissioner will be. It's also quite a gamble. I don't think he wants to end up as an MEP if somehow he doesn't remain a Commissioner. And resigning as an MEP would be quite a bad look.

Timmermans' best characteristic vis-a-vis potential other candidates would probably be his "non-partisan"/"statesmanlike" position as an experienced and relatively widely respected European Commissioner. He could probably get a better position in the Commission than any candidate in Dutch politics, which could arguably be good for the country and the government's position within Europe too. Rutte is someone who could especially be swayed with this argument.

[Mike88]

PSD announced, today, that they support Manfred Weber. For the EPP congress, PSD has 17 delegates, while CDS has 5.

[Diouf]

Les Républicains also for Weber. Gonna be a yuuuge win.

Laurent Wauquiez
@laurentwauquiez
J'apporte tout mon soutien à mon ami @ManfredWeber pour qu'il devienne le Spitzenkandidat du @PPE. Une Europe qui protège et fière de ses valeurs : je sais qu'il porte le meilleur projet pour le futur de notre continent. Un projet que nous défendrons ensemble. #Up2EU

[Diouf]

EPP delegate vote:

621 votes, 2 invalid.

492 votes for Weber so must be 127 for Stubb

[Former President tack50]

EPP delegate vote:

621 votes, 2 invalid.

492 votes for Weber so must be 127 for Stubb

Do we have any breakup by country/party?

[Helsinkian]

EPP delegate vote:

621 votes, 2 invalid.

492 votes for Weber so must be 127 for Stubb

Do we have any breakup by country/party?

I think it was a secret ballot.

[Diouf]

It isn't completely clear what ALDE will do in terms of spitzenkandidaten. Some of them have suddenly been critical of the concept, perhaps to lure over Macron. I think they will end up nominating someone. Their Madrid congress has started, and according to their original plan, this is the time where the opening of nominations will start.

[Diouf]

From what I've heard at the opening of the ALDE congress, it sounds like ALDE will not pick a Spitzenkandidat, but a team of frontline campaigners. I don't know how big this team will be.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

https://www.aldeparty.eu/press-releases/european-liberals-present-campaign-team-2019-elections

[Diouf]

Perhaps the Liberal campaign team will simply be one ALDE candidate and one En Marche candidate? From looking at tweets and hearing the speeches, there seems to be an expectation of a Vestager candidacy. Bulc's speech in particular ended with a note about wanting a strong liberal woman to lead Europe, and it seemed to me that she turned towards Vestager after saying it. But she could have been thinking of herself of course

[Grand Wizard Lizard of the Klan]

Nicola Beer
‏@nicolabeerfdp

Astrid Panosyan, co-founder of @enmarchefr, announces cooperation between #ALDE & #EnMarche at #ALDEcongress in Madrid!
Together towards European Elections 2019!🤝🇪🇺
@Liberale_News @ALDEParty @ALDEgroup @ALDEIndMembers @ALDE_CoR #LaREM

[Tender Branson]

Did you guys know that Manfred Weber is the European version of Beto O'Rourke ?

[rc18]

Did you guys know that Manfred Weber is the European version of Beto O'Rourke ?

Clearly not since Weber is going to win.

[Tender Branson]

Did you guys know that Manfred Weber is the European version of Beto O'Rourke ?

Clearly not since Weber is going to win.

Not ideologically of course, that was not the point.

Can you guess what makes them similar ?

[DavidB.]

Did you guys know that Manfred Weber is the European version of Beto O'Rourke ?

This type of posts qualifies as spam, in my opinion.