European Council President Charles Michel has confirmed that he will be a candidate in the European Parliament elections. If elected, the presidency will remain vacant and under the current rules, the member state holding the rotating presidency — in this case Hungary after the election — will chair the meetings. And this is a scenario that already scares the rest of the EU leaders.
That scenario — an unhinged Orbán leading the Council for the six months immediately following the 2024 European elections — is one that the other 26 EU leaders would be desperate to avoid given the escalation of tensions between them and Orbán.
The rules of procedure of the European Council provide that, if the president’s term of office expires, he or she will be replaced, if necessary in the absence of a successor, by the member of the European Council representing the Member State holding the six-month presidency of the Council.
However, at the end of the regulation it is stated that these rules can be amended by a simple majority. So if Viktor Orbán’s fear grows, the whole process could change.
What is the position of the head of the European Council?
- This is the first time that the current president of the European Council is a candidate in an election for the EC.
- The position was only created in 2009, when the Treaty of Lisbon introduced it into the European Union.
- The role of permanent president was introduced precisely to ensure the ‘continuity’ of EU policies.
- The main criticisms, however, are that it undermines diversity and equal representation among member states — even though it was created to secure those very goals.
- The president of the European Council is elected by the European Council by a qualified majority.
- The next president will be elected in June, during the next institutional term, along with other senior appointments.
