andrea
Non-Aligned
Posts: 7,280
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Post by andrea on Jul 2, 2019 20:36:58 GMT
Nominations for EU Parliament president:
Ska KELLER (Greens, Germany) Sira REGO (GUE, Spain) David-Maria SASSOLI (S&D, Italy) Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, Czech Republic)
Elections to be held tomorrow
After 3 ballots, only top 2 will go to 4th ballot
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Jul 2, 2019 21:02:58 GMT
Nominations for EU Parliament president: Ska KELLER (Greens, Germany) Sira REGO (GUE, Spain) David-Maria SASSOLI (S&D, Italy) Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, Czech Republic) Elections to be held tomorrow After 3 ballots, only top 2 will go to 4th ballot God, Franziska Keller. She's the least worst of a bad bunch, there.
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andrea
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Post by andrea on Jul 2, 2019 21:07:20 GMT
Nominations for EU Parliament president: Ska KELLER (Greens, Germany) Sira REGO (GUE, Spain) David-Maria SASSOLI (S&D, Italy) Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, Czech Republic) Elections to be held tomorrow After 3 ballots, only top 2 will go to 4th ballot God, Franziska Keller. She's the least worst of a bad bunch, there. It should have been an Eastern European Socialist (likely Stanishev from Bulgaria) according to this evening's agreements. But apparently Socialists are as pissed as they can be tonight. So they ignored the whole thing and stick with Sassoli.
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middyman
Conservative
"The problem with socialism is that, sooner or later, you run out of other people's money."
Posts: 8,050
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Post by middyman on Jul 2, 2019 22:35:44 GMT
Jesus wept. I'm not on the same political page as Timmermans but he is a competent, clubbable character. Rosie von der Leyen...total lightweight and a hardcore federalist. What a bizarre choice. As for the rest- I like Lagarde, Michel is another lightweight, and Borrell is competent but doesn't pass the smell test. I can think of several better choices for every position, especially the top one. Does anyone know (or can speculate plausibly!) why this slate got the backing of the heads of state, when (I understand) Timmermans was blocked by the Visegrasd bloc + Italy? Well, this is a bit controversial/provocative I know, but can anyone tell me why anyone would want to be governed by such an outfit that functions in this manner?
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Foggy
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Post by Foggy on Jul 2, 2019 22:41:47 GMT
Does anyone know (or can speculate plausibly!) why this slate got the backing of the heads of state, when (I understand) Timmermans was blocked by the Visegrasd bloc + Italy? Well, this is a bit controversial/provocative I know, but can anyone tell me why anyone would want to be governed by such an outfit that functions in this manner? You're correct, of course. The heads of state and government should have no part in deciding who the head of the Commission will be. Changing the treaties to this effect would naturally entail a pooling of more sovereignty than is shared at present (and would arguably be a move toward a unitary EU, not just a federal one). If you keep insisting that the EU can only over be a supranational and intergovernmental organisation, then this is how things will continue to be done, I'm afraid.
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Foggy
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Post by Foggy on Jul 2, 2019 22:43:50 GMT
I could envisage a better political and geographical split too. Could one of the top jobs not go to a Green, or an eastern European? Michel and Lagarde are... underwhelming appointments at best. Anyone who follows Spanish politics can see how Borrell could be a bad choice. Anybody who's paid any attention to German politics over the past 14 years must know that Von der Leyen is an atrocious nomination for Commission chief. Already out of her depth as Minister for Families way back in Cabinet Merkel-I, she's been under fire for being 'addicted to consultants' in recent years at Defence. That's a position she only rose to as she was loyal to Merkel and not a threat to her leadership, basically. Timmermans I could've lived with. He was at least a Spitzenkandidat. Greens are not a part of the " Commission party groups of EPP,S&D and RENEW" which rules then out. There's no reason for a cordon sanitaire around them like there is with the many eurosceptic groups and the extreme left, though. The problem is that the Green-EFA caucus has nobody to speak up for it at Council level (which, as discussed above, should no longer even be a thing).
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middyman
Conservative
"The problem with socialism is that, sooner or later, you run out of other people's money."
Posts: 8,050
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Post by middyman on Jul 2, 2019 22:43:53 GMT
Well, this is a bit controversial/provocative I know, but can anyone tell me why anyone would want to be governed by such an outfit that functions in this manner? You're correct, of course. The heads of state and government should have no part in deciding who the head of the Commission will be. Changing the treaties to this effect would naturally entail a pooling of more sovereignty than is shared at present (and would arguably be a move toward a unitary EU, not just a federal one). If you keep insisting that the EU can only over be a supranational and intergovernmental organisation, then this is how things will continue to be done, I'm afraid. A unitary EU is, of course, the ultimate aim.
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Foggy
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Inactivist
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Post by Foggy on Jul 2, 2019 22:46:47 GMT
You're correct, of course. The heads of state and government should have no part in deciding who the head of the Commission will be. Changing the treaties to this effect would naturally entail a pooling of more sovereignty than is shared at present (and would arguably be a move toward a unitary EU, not just a federal one). If you keep insisting that the EU can only over be a supranational and intergovernmental organisation, then this is how things will continue to be done, I'm afraid. A unitary EU is, of course, the ultimate aim. For some, yes, and that would not be a desireable outcome to this direction of travel. The much more acceptable endpoint of a confederal or federal EU would be achievable if the terms were not so misunderstood (whether intentionally or otherwise) and talked about as if they were dirty words.
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middyman
Conservative
"The problem with socialism is that, sooner or later, you run out of other people's money."
Posts: 8,050
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Post by middyman on Jul 2, 2019 22:49:14 GMT
A unitary EU is, of course, the ultimate aim. For some, yes, and that would not be a desireable outcome to this direction of travel. The much more acceptable endpoint of a confederal or federal EU would be achievable if the terms were not so misunderstood (whether intentionally or otherwise) and talked about as if they were dirty words. I understand the aim to be one country called “Europe”.
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Georg Ebner
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Roman romantic reactionary Catholic
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Post by Georg Ebner on Jul 2, 2019 23:00:56 GMT
For some, yes, and that would not be a desireable outcome to this direction of travel. The much more acceptable endpoint of a confederal or federal EU would be achievable if the terms were not so misunderstood (whether intentionally or otherwise) and talked about as if they were dirty words. I understand the aim to be one country called “Europe”. Yes: Copying the USA. Being divided has been characteristically for Europe (especially for AncientGreece, Italy and Germany) - a USE would show Europe as being killed by Americanism (what doesn't mean, that no USE would prove Europe's survival).
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andrea
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Post by andrea on Jul 3, 2019 7:51:13 GMT
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andrea
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Post by andrea on Jul 3, 2019 9:19:01 GMT
Round 1
Ska KELLER (Greens, Germany) 133 Sira REGO (GUE, Spain) 42 David-Maria SASSOLI (S&D, Italy) 325 Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, Czech Republic) 162
73 blanc or invalid
Majority required was 332
New ballot now
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The Bishop
Labour
Down With Factionalism!
Posts: 36,813
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Post by The Bishop on Jul 3, 2019 10:30:23 GMT
I do hope so, she is a dreadful nominee.
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andrea
Non-Aligned
Posts: 7,280
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Post by andrea on Jul 3, 2019 11:14:51 GMT
Round 2
Ska KELLER (Greens, Germany) 119 (-14) Sira REGO (GUE, Spain) 43 (+1) David-Maria SASSOLI (S&D, Italy) 345 (+20) Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, Czech Republic) 160 (-2)
Sassoli is elected
I love the random switch by 1 MEP to the Podemos woman for round 2.
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Post by curiousliberal on Jul 3, 2019 11:22:27 GMT
If Von de Leyen's bid falls apart, does Sassoli remain locked in? If so, could that lead to the presidency and the commission both going to S&D?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2019 11:27:22 GMT
I suspect that this is going to be a very unpopular opinion, but I'm actually very much in favour of a non-Spitzenkandidat Commission President. They must command support from a majority of MEPs to be elected, and with none of the groups having anywhere close to a majority on their own, I think it's utterly wrong for the 'leader' of one of the groups to take on the role instead of some compromise candidate. That said, I have no reason to believe that vdL is suitable for such a compromise.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2019 11:27:55 GMT
If Von de Leyen's bid falls apart, does Sassoli remain locked in? If so, could that lead to the presidency and the commission both going to S&D? An interesting question - I believe so, unless he voluntarily steps down.
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andrea
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Post by andrea on Jul 3, 2019 12:01:31 GMT
In EU Parliament, presidency is for only half term. So at the end of 2021 they will have another vote. They will change him at that point. They always have 2 presidents per term. Schulz did 5 consecutive years but it was second half of 2009-14 Parliament and first half of 2014-19 term.
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Post by edgbaston on Jul 3, 2019 13:00:43 GMT
Round 2 Ska KELLER (Greens, Germany) 119 (-14) Sira REGO (GUE, Spain) 43 (+1) David-Maria SASSOLI (S&D, Italy) 345 (+20) Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, Czech Republic) 160 (-2) Sassoli is elected I love the random switch by 1 MEP to the Podemos woman for round 2. Why was a second round needed when he had a majority?
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andrea
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Post by andrea on Jul 3, 2019 13:05:00 GMT
Round 2 Ska KELLER (Greens, Germany) 119 (-14) Sira REGO (GUE, Spain) 43 (+1) David-Maria SASSOLI (S&D, Italy) 345 (+20) Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, Czech Republic) 160 (-2) Sassoli is elected I love the random switch by 1 MEP to the Podemos woman for round 2. Why was a second round needed when he had a majority? He was 7 votes short in round 1 325+162+133+42=662/2=331+1=332 needed
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