Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has expressed his support for Manfred Weber of Germany, who has announced his bid to become head of the European Commission in 2019 in the event his faction wins the EU Parliament election.
VIENNA (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 06th September, 2018) Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has expressed his support for Manfred Weber of Germany, who has announced his bid to become head of the European Commission in 2019 in the event his faction wins the EU Parliament election.
Weber, who heads the European People's Party (EPP) group in the European Parliament and represents the Christian Social Union in Bavaria, announced his bid for the top EU post on Wednesday. The politician also plans to become the only EPP candidate at the upcoming election in the European Parliament.
"Manfred Weber is not only an absolute European, but also a person who has the power and the courage to deal with problems and make necessary changes. He stands for a fair Europe," Kurz said on Twitter.
The EPP is the most influential and largest political party in Europe, with its members represented in all EU institutions as well as the Council of Europe. The party includes 73 collective members and national parties from about 40 European countries. Acting European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Parliament President Antonio Tajani are from the EPP.
The current mandates of the European Commission, the European Council, as well as of EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi expire in 2019.
