Charles Michel will not step down early as President of the European Council to participate in the European elections. On Friday evening the Belgian know via Facebook to reconsider his decision, to serve out his term as Council President and not to be an eligible candidate. The decision comes less than a week before an important European summit that Michel is expected to lead.
In recent weeks, politicians and diplomats in front and behind the scenes have expressed remarkably harsh criticism of Michel’s decision to retire early. He was “selfish,” “rash” and “shameless.” Michel now states that he does not want his decision to “undermine the European project”. He also says he wants to keep “focus” on his “mission” and will continue his “responsibilities with steadfast determination.”
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European President Michel damages office with early departure
At the beginning of January, Michel unexpectedly announced his intention to stand for election to the European Parliament and therefore leave as President of the European Council next summer. Michel’s term would actually only end in December, meaning his decision put great pressure on EU government leaders to appoint a successor in time. Especially because in the absence of a new Council President, the gavel would go to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán from July: a notorious obstructionist within the EU.
It partly explains the fierce criticism Michel received for his decision. In addition, he was accused of choosing himself, at a time when, as President of the European Council, he should have guaranteed the stability of the EU. The criticism also ties in with long-standing annoyances about Michel, who, according to critics, has been too preoccupied with his personal branding for years.
Now that Michel is completing his term, government leaders will have one less headache to worry about in the coming months. Michel’s successor will now, as usual, become part of the job carousel that will start in Brussels after the European elections at the beginning of June and in which, among other things, the President of the European Commission will be appointed. Michel himself declares that he will only consider his future after the end of his term.