Poland's Buzek Closer to European Parliament Presidency
Dominika Pszczółkowska, Bruksela
009-06-09, ostatnia aktualizacja 2009-06-09 08:18
Jerzy Buzek's chances for becoming the president of the European Parliament are now greater than before last week's elections. Even the Italians admit this, even though their Mario Mauro is Mr Buzek's rival.
Jerzy Buzek
Mr Buzek's chances have improved by dint of the PO-PSL coalition's robust performance in the European elections - together they will have 28 seats in the assembly. As well as thanks to the fact that Germans will dominate in the centre-right EPP-ED group.
'We can imagine Mr Buzek as president,' says a CDU/CSU politician. 'He's a man we feel closer to than Mr Mauro, and he's also a man from the new Europe.'
'We need to seek a consensus not only with Germany, which doesn't have a candidate of its own, but also with other interested countries, such as Poland,' said Italy's foreign minister, Franco Frattini.
As Gazeta has learned, prime minister Donald Tusk has already talked to Joseph Daul, incumbent and likely future chairman of the EPP-ED group, who offered to mediate between Warsaw and Rome. According to a Polish politician Gazeta has talked to, Berlin's support for Mr Buzek is so strong that even Italy's opposition cannot thwart Mr Buzek's chances.
'The issue will be part of the bargaining over positions in the Parliament as well as over the commissioner portfolios,' said Brussels expert Antonio Missiroli. He also believes Mr Buzek's chances have improved.
'The new member states have to get something,' Prof Ricardo Perissich, once a high-ranking Commission official, tells Gazeta. 'Neither a Pole nor anyone from Central Europe will yet become president of the Commission or the EU's president or foreign minister, positions envisaged by the Lisbon Treaty. Parliament presidency? This can be the perfect option.'
Speaking in favour of Mr Buzek is his biography - he is a former prime minister with a sound reform record, a respected MEP, and a Protestant. Mario Mauro is a member of the Catholic movement Communion and Liberation and according to some, especially on the left, he is just too 'pious.'
'Mr Buzek's religion is a strong argument in his favour,' a prominent socialist MEP tells Gazeta.
But first the Christian Democrats have to agree on their candidate. Joseph Daul repeated yesterday that either one of the contenders calls it quits or an internal election will be held.
The largest national representation in the EPP-ED will be the Germans (42 seats), followed by the Italians (34-35), the French (30), and the Poles (28). The big question is: whom will the French offer their support to? Will Mediterranean solidarity prevail?
'Why should they cross the Germans?' asks an Italian journalist in Brussels. Mr Daul can be sure of retaining his present position, so he doesn't need to canvass for the Italians' support.
The Christian Democrats will not elect the Parliament's president themselves because they lack the majority. They will need votes from either the Liberals or the Socialists. Britain's Graham Watson, the leader of the former, has suggested that if José Manuel Barroso, a Christian Democrat, is likely to be re-elected as president of the Commission, then perhaps the Parliament's presidency is due to a Liberal or a Socialist. The Christian Democrats and the Liberals don't have a majority either, meaning they would have to secure the support of the new rightwing group comprising the British Conservative Party, the Polish PiS, and the Czech ODS.
So perhaps a deal with the Socialists, for whom Mr Mauro is unacceptable as Mr Berlusconi's man, will be more palatable. This improves Mr Buzek's chances.
It is clear that, regardless of the configuration, the PiS and SLD will support Mr Buzek, but together they are just 22 votes. Jarosław Kaczyński, the PiS leader, said he would urge his colleagues from the Conservative Party and the ODS to vote for the ex-Polish prime minister
Dominika Pszczółkowska, Bruksela
009-06-09, ostatnia aktualizacja 2009-06-09 08:18
Jerzy Buzek's chances for becoming the president of the European Parliament are now greater than before last week's elections. Even the Italians admit this, even though their Mario Mauro is Mr Buzek's rival.
Jerzy Buzek Mr Buzek's chances have improved by dint of the PO-PSL coalition's robust performance in the European elections - together they will have 28 seats in the assembly. As well as thanks to the fact that Germans will dominate in the centre-right EPP-ED group.
'We can imagine Mr Buzek as president,' says a CDU/CSU politician. 'He's a man we feel closer to than Mr Mauro, and he's also a man from the new Europe.'
'We need to seek a consensus not only with Germany, which doesn't have a candidate of its own, but also with other interested countries, such as Poland,' said Italy's foreign minister, Franco Frattini.
As Gazeta has learned, prime minister Donald Tusk has already talked to Joseph Daul, incumbent and likely future chairman of the EPP-ED group, who offered to mediate between Warsaw and Rome. According to a Polish politician Gazeta has talked to, Berlin's support for Mr Buzek is so strong that even Italy's opposition cannot thwart Mr Buzek's chances.
'The issue will be part of the bargaining over positions in the Parliament as well as over the commissioner portfolios,' said Brussels expert Antonio Missiroli. He also believes Mr Buzek's chances have improved.
'The new member states have to get something,' Prof Ricardo Perissich, once a high-ranking Commission official, tells Gazeta. 'Neither a Pole nor anyone from Central Europe will yet become president of the Commission or the EU's president or foreign minister, positions envisaged by the Lisbon Treaty. Parliament presidency? This can be the perfect option.'
Speaking in favour of Mr Buzek is his biography - he is a former prime minister with a sound reform record, a respected MEP, and a Protestant. Mario Mauro is a member of the Catholic movement Communion and Liberation and according to some, especially on the left, he is just too 'pious.'
'Mr Buzek's religion is a strong argument in his favour,' a prominent socialist MEP tells Gazeta.
But first the Christian Democrats have to agree on their candidate. Joseph Daul repeated yesterday that either one of the contenders calls it quits or an internal election will be held.
The largest national representation in the EPP-ED will be the Germans (42 seats), followed by the Italians (34-35), the French (30), and the Poles (28). The big question is: whom will the French offer their support to? Will Mediterranean solidarity prevail?
'Why should they cross the Germans?' asks an Italian journalist in Brussels. Mr Daul can be sure of retaining his present position, so he doesn't need to canvass for the Italians' support.
The Christian Democrats will not elect the Parliament's president themselves because they lack the majority. They will need votes from either the Liberals or the Socialists. Britain's Graham Watson, the leader of the former, has suggested that if José Manuel Barroso, a Christian Democrat, is likely to be re-elected as president of the Commission, then perhaps the Parliament's presidency is due to a Liberal or a Socialist. The Christian Democrats and the Liberals don't have a majority either, meaning they would have to secure the support of the new rightwing group comprising the British Conservative Party, the Polish PiS, and the Czech ODS.
So perhaps a deal with the Socialists, for whom Mr Mauro is unacceptable as Mr Berlusconi's man, will be more palatable. This improves Mr Buzek's chances.
It is clear that, regardless of the configuration, the PiS and SLD will support Mr Buzek, but together they are just 22 votes. Jarosław Kaczyński, the PiS leader, said he would urge his colleagues from the Conservative Party and the ODS to vote for the ex-Polish prime minister