European Parliament chief Martin Schulz Wednesday (6 November) became the first politician to formally begin campaigning to be the next President of the European commission.
Following a vote in the European Party of Socialists (PES), Schulz was nomintated “candidate designate” for the post and is set become the candidate proper following the party’s congress in March next year.
Schulz, a German politician and social democrat, said he was “honoured and humbled” by the support of the centre-left forces.
Nominations for the socialists’ candidate were made during October. Schulz received support from 22 of the 32 parties that make up the European centre-left family.
“This does not mean that the others voted against him,” said a spokesperson for the PES.
“It brings us to the next very important step – to have engagement with the parties,” he continued.
Socialist parties at the national level are now due to explain the process to their party members, with the 2014 European elections (22-25 May) representing the first time that European political parties are putting forward candidates for the top commission job.
