Orban at the head of the European Council? Michel reassures. “There will be no earthquake”

On Saturday, the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, informed the media that he wants to run in the elections to the European Parliament, which will be held in June this year, and, if he obtains a mandate, take the oath in mid-July. He will then have to step down as President of the European Council, which he was supposed to hold until the end of November.

– There is plenty of time to choose my successor – this is how Charles Michel responded to a question from the Brussels correspondent of Polish Radio about whether he is not afraid of chaos and problems at the European Council, i.e. at the summits with the participation of the leaders of 27 member states, if he resigns and his successor fails. agree unanimously.

Viktor Orban, head of the European Council? Charles Michel reassures

“I’m not taking anyone by surprise, we have a few months,” said the head of the European Council. Elections to the European Parliament will be held at the beginning of June this year. A post-election summit has already been planned for June 17, and 1.5 weeks later the traditional June summit ending Belgium’s presidency will take place in the Union.

If the leaders of the EU countries do not choose a successor, Prime Minister Viktor Orban will become the temporary head of the European Council from mid-July, because Hungary will lead the work of the EU in the second half of the year.

This rule can be changed by a simple majority vote. If there is political will, there are many possibilities to avoid Viktor Orban becoming the head of the Council

– said Charles Michel. He added that he informed all leaders about his decision and they reacted mostly positively. In his opinion, the information provided now will have a motivating effect and it will be possible to agree on a new president of the European Council before mid-July.