Jean-Claude Juncker may be the man the centre-right European People’s Party want as president of the European Commission but he won’t have an easy ride.<br /><br />The German press reports on Sunday that both British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande say they won’t back him.<br /><br />German newspaper Der Spiegel quotes Cameron as saying the UK would bring forward a referendum on EU membership if Junker got the top job. Cameron was speaking on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels on Tuesday.<br /><br />Meanwhile another German newspaper, Bild am Sonntag, says Hollande wants a French person to take the position and is trying to block Juncker. Hollande has apparently told Merkel that following the far-right National Front’s strong showing in the European elections, he needs a signal for his government.<br /><br />Junker, who was previously the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, has shrugged off the comments, saying that a majority of Christian Democratic and socialist leaders in the European Council back him.<br /><br />The European Commission president is selected by EU leaders but must be approved by a majority in the parliament. For the first time, the leaders are now obliged to “take into account” the election results when making their choice.<br /><br />The European People’s Party party won the most seats in the EU elections and Jean-Claude Juncker is their chosen candidate for the job.
