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Left-wing leaders back Juncker for top Europe job | Left-wing leaders back Juncker for top Europe job |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Jean-Claude Juncker's bid to head the European Commission has received a boost with the backing of nine left-wing heads of government. | Jean-Claude Juncker's bid to head the European Commission has received a boost with the backing of nine left-wing heads of government. |
The leaders said it was important to respect the spirit of the European parliament elections, which had returned a centre-right majority. | The leaders said it was important to respect the spirit of the European parliament elections, which had returned a centre-right majority. |
Mr Juncker is the centre-right's candidate for the post. | Mr Juncker is the centre-right's candidate for the post. |
The announcement is expected to further isolate the UK government, which opposes Mr Juncker's candidacy. | The announcement is expected to further isolate the UK government, which opposes Mr Juncker's candidacy. |
The nine leaders met in Paris at the invitation of French President Francois Hollande, ahead of a summit next week. | The nine leaders met in Paris at the invitation of French President Francois Hollande, ahead of a summit next week. |
The summit will decide who is to head the Commission, the European Union's executive body. | The summit will decide who is to head the Commission, the European Union's executive body. |
Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged the UK will oppose "right up to the end" the candidacy of former Luxembourg leader Jean-Claude Juncker to be European Commission president. | Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged the UK will oppose "right up to the end" the candidacy of former Luxembourg leader Jean-Claude Juncker to be European Commission president. |
He has said Mr Juncker was too pro-federalist and the appointment would make EU reforms harder to achieve. | He has said Mr Juncker was too pro-federalist and the appointment would make EU reforms harder to achieve. |
Other countries with centre-right leaders, such as Germany and Spain, have already come out in support of Mr Juncker. | Other countries with centre-right leaders, such as Germany and Spain, have already come out in support of Mr Juncker. |
Among the leaders present in Paris was the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who Mr Cameron had been hoping to pull over to his side of the argument. | Among the leaders present in Paris was the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who Mr Cameron had been hoping to pull over to his side of the argument. |
Mr Renzi seems to have gone along with what the rest of the European left wants, says the BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris. | Mr Renzi seems to have gone along with what the rest of the European left wants, says the BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris. |
This involves some kind of guarantee about a shift in Commission policy towards their anti-austerity economic agenda, in return for backing Mr Juncker, the BBC's Hugh Schofield our correspondent adds. | |
Saturday's announcement will be more uncomfortable news for Mr Cameron, who is looking less and less likely to get his way with an alternative candidate, our correspondent says. | Saturday's announcement will be more uncomfortable news for Mr Cameron, who is looking less and less likely to get his way with an alternative candidate, our correspondent says. |
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