The CSU European politician Manfred Weber should lead not only the European People’s Party (EPP) as a leading candidate in the European elections in 2019, but also his own party. The narrowest party leadership officially nominated the Niederbayern this evening for their first place in Europe – a formality.
On the also considered safe places two to four follow the other previous MEPs Angelika Niebler, Markus Ferber and Monika Hohlmeier. For the vacant fifth place there were several contenders, in the end, the party leadership agreed on Christian Doleschal. In sixth place is Marlene Mortler.
Chances for the post of EU Commission President?
However, the list is finally decided on a nomination party on 24 November in Munich. While the places one to four are considered indisputable, fighting candidates for the following places are not excluded, but even likely.
Weber, the EPP faction leader in the European Parliament, had been named the top candidate of the European Conservatives only on Thursday. Should the EPP become the strongest political group again, Weber has a good chance of becoming EU Commission President.
Weber: Seehofer will have to explain quickly
Meanwhile, Weber left open whether he might like to follow party leader Horst Seehofer under pressure. „We have a reigning party leader,“ he replied to a similar question in the ZDF program „Berlin direct“.
He said, however, that Seehofer „in the next week“ will explain his position publicly, as it should continue after the voting losses of over ten percentage points in the Bavarian state elections with the CSU in terms of content and personnel. „Then we’ll see,“ Weber said.
„Nationalism is back“
„The Christian Social Union is a party for me in the middle,“ said Weber. She was a Christian, liberal, social but also conservative party. He criticized that this localization in the middle had been lost a bit by the largely „monothematic debate“ on migration policy. „We have to change that,“ he demanded.
Referring to the European development Weber lamented: „The nationalism on this continent is back.“ Every voter in the next European election must know that it is about a historic decision. It was about whether the principle of partnership and coexistence continued or whether egoism and nationalism returned.
