The European Greens are being brought in as a means to prevent the ECR conservatives from gaining a majority. The path to achieving this, especially with the candidacy of Elly Schlein, is challenging and uncertain. The secretary has taken charge of the Democrats’ European game, as announced during the assembly with newly elected members on June 14. Discussions have been ongoing with leaders of the European socialist family and others to work towards electing the commission without the votes of conservatives.
There are two possible paths towards reaching this goal. The most natural one is through the Greens, who closely align with the socialist family on issues such as common investments and the Green Deal. However, even within the Greens, there may be differing sensibilities that could impact their support for Ursula von der Leyen. The electronic and secret vote adds an element of unpredictability to the situation.
Another option for von der Leyen is to engage in individual negotiations with representatives and elected officials without a European party affiliation to secure their support. This ‘a la carte’ approach was successful in forming the previous majority that included the Five Star Movement. These negotiations are intense as there are significant numbers of elected officials without a group affiliation.
The path towards forming a majority with the Greens may require sacrifices from the Democrats in terms of key positions in commissions. Discussions are ongoing regarding potential agreements and alignments to secure support needed.
The role of Democratic Party within S&D group is crucial, and negotiations are progressing to ensure a strong position within group. Potential leadership roles and responsibilities are being discussed with a focus on maintaining influence and representation within European Parliament. The dynamics within S&D group may shift over time presenting opportunities for Democrats to further strengthen their position.
In conclusion, achieving this goal will require careful consideration by all parties involved, including discussions around potential agreements and alignments, commission assignments, delegation leadership roles, as well as negotiations around key positions within both groups.
