Michel withdraws his candidacy from the European elections to end his mandate as head of the Council

belgium Charles Mitchell Return. The President of the European Council announced on Friday afternoon that he is finally withdrawing his candidacy for the next European elections at the head of the Belgian Reform Movement (MR) list. A decision that was made official earlier this month and that forced him to leave early as head of the institution that brings together twenty-seven heads of state or government.

Mitchell’s departure left council leaders in a delicate position. They were obliged to find a replacement after the 16 July elections so as not to leave the interim position in the hands of the Hungarian Prime Minister, viktor orbanSince Budapest will assume the rotating presidency of the EU Council from July 1.

“In order to preserve peace in the fulfillment of my current mission, I will not be a candidate in the European elections,” Michel wrote on his Facebook profile. The Belgian acknowledged that his decision to submit his candidacy had generated “intense media controversy” and assured that he had anticipated it because of the “unprecedented, audacious, some would say” nature of his decision.

“But I underestimated the scale and ferocity of some of the negative reactions – not within the European Council, but outside it – to me at the prospect of taking part in the European campaign. And also to bring forward by a few months the end of my term and the entry into office of the person who will succeed me,” he acknowledged.

Michel, who intended to run at the head of Belgium’s French-speaking liberal party list, He will finally leave office on November 30, He does not want, as he explained, that the controversies “distract us from the essential things and weaken the institution that I preside over and, therefore, the European project” and he does not want his approach to be “in any way critical be” or diverted to divide the Council of Europeans, who, in his opinion, should strive tirelessly for European unity.

“I accept the validity of all political criticism and all intellectual arguments. Naturally, there are many possible viewpoints on any situation. But I see that damaging attacks are given more priority over factual and objective arguments,” he stressed in the context of the harsh reactions generated by his initial announcement. Something that is defended against. “In my opinion, this affects the development of democratic life.” On a personal level, it makes me wonder about the meaning and impact of an electoral commitment to which I have dedicated my life for thirty years, not only for myself, but also for those close to me.

The former Prime Minister of Belgium assured that his term as head of the European Council is coming to an end take time to reflect “On the nature and direction of its future commitment.” However he believes that the fact that he communicated “quite early” about his decision to present himself in the European elections “ensured the transparency of his intentions” and allowed the European Council to prepare for the transition. Got enough time. The election campaign activities, he said, were consistent with the exercise of the expiring mandate.

leader of the Belgian reform movement, Georges-Louis BouchezThe social network reported that, although not having Michelle on their list would be a “real disappointment”, their decisions “should inspire the greatest respect.”

Other voices among European liberals have not been as savvy. is the case of Marie-Agnes Strack-ZimmermanChairman of the Bundestag Defense Committee and the German FDP’s main candidate in the European elections, who described the announcement as “another 180-degree turn… which is causing confusion”. “Their role is not self-promotion, but representation and coordination of member states.” He doesn’t do anything like that. He concluded, “It is time for a new and qualified President of the Council of the EU.”

In his announcement the President of the Council highlighted that his successor will be chosen before the first plenary session of the European Parliament after the next elections. On the other hand, the position of head of the Belgian list of French-speaking liberals can be filled by the current Justice Commissioner, didier renders, The only problem is that Belgium has supported his candidacy for Secretary General of the Council of Europe.