The effort could bring Metsola and the EPP into conflict with the Socialists and Democrats, the Parliament’s second-biggest group, which argues it should assume the presidency based on a power-sharing deal established at the start of the term. However, the EPP has been unclear about any commitment to such an agreement.
The S&D has not yet proposed a candidate to succeed Metsola — something noticed by some party allies. A Green lawmaker, when questioned about supporting the Socialists, stated, “I will think about it when they have a candidate, I cannot support a vague claim for a post.”
The disagreements between the EPP and S&D have created an opportunity for Renew Europe, the third member of the centrist coalition, to consider proposing a compromise candidate, according to two Renew lawmakers.
Will far right secure leadership positions?
The reshuffle will again challenge the so-called cordon sanitaire, an informal agreement among centrist forces to exclude the far right from decision-making.
In practice, this rule no longer applies to lawmaking — the EPP has previously voted with the far right on issues such as migration and deregulation.
Nevertheless, Weber stated in an interview with POLITICO last year that it was a “red line” for him and his political group “to allocate any role to right-extreme politicians in this house, to represent the institution, to hold power on the administrative side, and also in other areas involving an executive role.”
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