Elections 2014, Lamassoure: The EPP must find a candidate quickly or we will lose

Interview with the French popular, President of the European Parliament Budget Committee 

“Between us there is some resistance; we must overcome it because Schulz is already in full campaign”

 Enough hesitating, the European People’s Party must also find their own candidate for the office of President of the Commission or “we will lose the elections.” According to the French Alain Lamassoure, President of the European Parliament Budget Committee in the EPP, “there is some resistance” but “must be overcome quickly.”

 You were the first to propose the direct elections and you don’t have a name yet.

The EU must become an institution with a classic parliamentary regime with the Chief Executive elected directly by the citizens in the parliamentary elections, this is what we wanted in the Lisbon Treaty and this is part of the EPP card. And so the EPP has every right to begin this innovation and apply it.”

 Socialists and Left-wings already have an official candidate, Greens and Liberals have given way to internal consultations while the Populars are still on high seas.

“So far the EPP gave itself a deadline for the Dublin Convention on March 6-7^th. I believe that the shared name should be found first because Martin Schulz is already in campaign and from here until the end of the year the others will also already be in campaign; it is best that the EPP also find a candidate who can make a campaign in the same way.”

And what will you have to do?

“We have to ask the candidate to go to the 28 countries, to ask all the national parties to support him, to be able to have common elements in each party’s programs, and also reach out to the press, perhaps by organizing live debates between the different candidates as occurs in the political life of our member states, and like this all citizens will be able to see and understand that for the first time a European election has true political purpose.”

How do you think the European Council will handle itself, since the states still hold the power to appoint the next President, even “taking into account” the ballot boxes?

“If the Council decides not to play this game we will remain in the current situation with a Europe that doesn’t have a face, that doesn’t have responsibility. At the entrance to the office of the President of the United States there is a sign that says ‘The buck stops here.’ That means he has final responsibility. In Europe this ultimate responsibility doesn’t exist.

 So what are you hoping to propose as your “ultimate responsibility”?

“It is obvious there is some resistance in the EPP right now and we must overcome that quickly.”

Meanwhile Schulz is already talking with the Greens, Left-Wings and Liberals looking for possible alliances in the House…

“He is right, it is the policy. Congress only has 4 months left; we have already lost time and we cannot lose more because we would risk losing the elections.”

Alfonso Bianchi