ANGELA Merkel could leave the German political scene to become the next European Commission President leading a new “pro-Europe coalition” at the May 2019 European elections, claims political scientist Sergio Fabbrini.
The Director of the LUISS School of Government told Express.co.uk he believes the next Europan Parliament elections could bring “dramatic change” to the European Union political landscape. Mr Fabbrini claimed a new “pro-Europe” coalition in the run to the May 2019 election could call for a new spitzenkandidaten like Angela Merkel.
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He said: “A new political party on the European side might emerge.
“Certainly the Greens, led by the German Greens, and certainly with Macron’s kind of approach.
“In Spain, there might be other parties on the moderate side in terms of left versus right that are very in favour of Europe.
“So if this new pro-Europe coalition gets the majority, I would say that probably this coalition would elect a new spitzenkandidat.
EU news: Angela Merkel could become new European Commission President, claims Sergio Fabbrini (Image: GETTY)
Last month, the German Chancellor ruled out pursuing a top job within the European Union after announcing her shock decision to stand down as leader of the Christian Democratic Union in Germany.
She told senior leaders within the CDU that she won’t be running for a number of senior positions within the EU after the upcoming European elections next year.
Mrs Merkel is keen for a German to be propelled into a number of the EU’s most senior positions when Jean-Claude Juncker’s European Commission presidency ends next year.
The German has championed Manfred Weber as the European People’s Party ‘Spitzenkandidaten’, instead of pushing herself for the role.
She has set her heart on German leadership of the powerful Brussels executive, prioritising it over the power of the European Central Bank.
A senior source in Berlin said: “The EU Commission rather than the ECB is the top priority for Merkel.”
Her shock admission comes as Mrs Merkel also revealed to CDU officials that she will not seek re-election as party chairwoman at its conference in early December.
Despite intending to continue her reign in charge of Germany, Mrs Merkel told close allies that she will not seek re-election as Chancellor or as an MP in the next German general election in 2021.
This brings an end to her 18-year tenure in the role as CDU chairwoman and will trigger a race within the party to succeed her as Chancellor.
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