It became known that the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, decided to leave his post early. It is now up to the EU leaders to quickly find a replacement.
Charles Michel officially announced his resignation, planning to run in the European Parliament elections in June. According to POLITICO, Michel transmitted the statement to three Belgian media and was confirmed by his spokesman.
If Charles Michel is elected to the European Parliament, EU leaders face the challenge of quickly agreeing on a replacement. Otherwise, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose country will preside over the EU Council from July to December, may assume the interim presidency of the European Council.
“That scenario — an unchecked Orbán ruling the Council roost for the six months directly after the 2024 European election — is one most of the other 26 leaders of EU countries would be desperate to avoid, given escalating tensions between them and Orbán, for example over the Union’s support for Ukraine and Hungary’s rule-of-law infractions”. — states The POLITICO.
It is noted that this is the first time that a current president of the EU Council has stood as a candidate for election to the European Parliament.
