EU news: The unity of the EU is being test amid a simmering row (Image: GETTY/EPA )
French President Emmanuel Macron is at the centre of the dispute after he criticised Spitzenkandidat - the EU’s obtuse and ‘undemocratic’ process for choosing who will replace outgoing European Commission President Jean Claude-Junker. Mr Macron said his country does not feel obliged to follow the system which sees the European Council choose the nominee of the party winning the most seats in Parliament.
Speaking after the summit in Romania’s Sibiu, he said: “I don’t feel bound at all by the principle of the Spitzenkandidat.”
The French leader added he has “has respect” for European People’s Party (EPP) candidate Manfred Weber.
He was backed by Luxembourg’s prime minister Xavier Bettel, who said the process was a “mistake from the beginning”.
Mr Bettel added: “Ask my voters - they have no clue who’s the Spitzenkandidat.”
EU news: Emmanuel Macron is at the centre of the row (Image: GETTY )
I don’t feel bound at all by the principle of the Spitzenkandidat
Emmanuel Macron
The Spitzenkandidat process is not written
