Ribera floated as Sánchez’s top candidate in EU election race

5 months ago 19

Spanish Ecological Transition Minister Teresa Ribera could be the lead candidate for the EU election list of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s ruling Socialist Party (PSOE/S&D), according to information from insiders, though a final decision will be taken at the end of April.

Sánchez’s PSOE is expected to announce the name of its leading candidate for the European elections after elections in the Basque country, which will be held on 21 April, Euractiv’s partner EFE reported.

According to party sources, the most likely date for the announcement of the candidate will be 27 or 28 April, at the end of a meeting of the Federal Committee of the Progressive Party, which governs in coalition with the left-wing Sumar platform, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz.

Last Friday, Sánchez refused to confirm or deny his preference for a possible candidate, saying only that Ribera would be an excellent candidate because of her extensive European background.

If Ribera becomes the lead candidate, she will likely be Sánchez’s nominee for Spain’s next commissioner.

Spain’s current commissioner, the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borell, meanwhile, said on 9 April that he wanted to stay on as EU High Representative until his mandate ends in October, citing the highly volatile international situation.

“I think everyone will understand that I have a job I can’t give up. The situation is bad and will get worse. I think the high representative must remain the high representative until the end of the mandate,” Borrell told a conference in Brussels.

(Fernando Heller | EuroEFE.Euractiv.es)