Greece’s Mitsotakis says he may be EPP’s main negotiator after EU elections

3 months ago 12

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Monday that he would likely be the EU centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) main negotiator after the European elections on 9 June.

In an interview with Skai radio station, the Greek leader called on citizens to vote for his ruling New Democracy party and boost it as much as possible.

“It is of great importance to me when I go back to negotiate in the European Council or on behalf of the European People’s Party because I am very likely to play this role the next day”, he said.

Asked if he will be EPP’s main negotiator, Mitsotakis replied:

“It is something that I think is very likely to happen, but for this to happen and to be completely sure, it is good that the New Democracy is still the largest – percentage-wise – party in the EPP. Our opinion counts; it also counts in the EPP, which is good for Greece”.

New Democracy is currently the strongest centre-right party in power nationally.

The centre-right party leads all national polls ahead of the EU elections, although soaring prices may cause problems for the ruling party.

Soaring prices top Greece’s EU election agenda

Greeks are going to the ballots for the EU elections fuming over skyrocketing prices, especially of food and fuel, which have sparked an intense political debate among parties over how to stem the seemingly unstoppable inflation.

With Poland’s Donald Tusk, Mitsotakis nominated Ursula von der Leyen as the EPP candidate in the EU elections.

After the EU elections, the EPP has said it wants to collaborate with the “healthy elements” of the EU hard-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy.

A potential collaboration with ECR has triggered a strong reaction from the EU socialists, who have said they will not sit around the same table to form a pro-EU coalition in the European Parliament if an ECR member is present.

Meloni not much in common with Le Pen

In the past, Mitsotakis has repeatedly said he is on the same page as his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, on many EU policies, such as migration.

In another interview on 30 May, Mitsotakis stressed that it would be important to have a majority of pro-EU forces and “those who can join this wider alliance are welcome”.

“I don’t think Ms Meloni has as much in common with Ms Le Pen as Ms Le Pen might think she has”, the Greek leader said.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who currently heads the Identity and Democracy (ID) group in the European Parliament, appears to have softened her stance towards Meloni. She has moved from direct criticism of the Italian prime minister to acknowledging common ground.

Le Pen recently told Corriere della Sera, “Now is the time to unite; it would be very beneficial. If we succe, we can become the second-largest group in the European Parliament. We shouldn’t let this opportunity pass.”

For her part, Meloni opposes the alliance between the EU socialists and the EPP and eyes a “different” right-wing majority after the elections.

Meloni predicts ‘different ruling majority’ in EU Parliament

With the far right expected to do well in the upcoming European elections, Italian Prime Minister and Fratelli d’Italia leader Giorgia Meloni said she expected the long-standing coalition between the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) and the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) to be challenged.

No alternative to von der Leyen

Mitsotakis insisted that the EPP will rank first in the elections and has “the right” to select the next president of the European Commission.

“Our choice is Ms von der Leyen. There is no plan B […] It’s a done decision of the EPP”, he added.

According to the latest projections of Euractiv’s polling partner, Europe Elects, the EPP is estimated to rank first and get 180 seats.

In order for von der Leyen to be reelected in the EU Commission’s presidency, she will need the support of 361 EU lawmakers.

An EPP source told Euractiv last week that von der Leyen will not have issues getting the support of EU leaders in the Council but may face difficulties in the EU Parliament.

To form a pro-EU coalition, the votes of EU socialists and liberals will be needed. Both have ruled out a collaboration with the ECR as the EPP aims to, making the formation of a pro-EU coalition complex after the elections.

Some suggest that the EPP aims to have a steady coalition with the Socialists and Liberals and seek alternative majorities on the right in case it disagrees with specific legislation pushed forward by S&D and Renew.

(Sarantis Michalopoulos – Edited by Alice Taylor | Euractiv)