[The next European Commission President] – Opposition builds to Juncker’s bid for Commission Presidency

Following the outcome of the European Parliament elections, 22-25 May 2014, these sources provide information on the process of choosing in June 2014 who should be the new European Commission President for the five years 2014 - 2019.

European Left's candidate for the EU executive, Alexis Tsipras stated on the 30 May 2014 that the nomination of a non-candidate for the leadership of the European Commission would turn the EU elections into a charade.

On the 2 June 2014, UK's former prime minister Tony Blair offered David Cameron indirect advice on renegotiating Britain's ties with the European Union, but ruled himself out as a candidate to become the next European Council president.

Martin Schulz said on the 3 June 2014 that his election rival Jean-Claude Juncker should take up the job of European Commission president. Juncker was the nominated candidate of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) alliance in the May 2014 European Parliament elections. The EPP won the most votes in the elections.

According to EurActiv, French sources had reported that German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked France whether it would be willing to put forward International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde as president of the European Commission.

According to BBC News on 6 June 2014, European Commission presidential hopeful Jean-Claude Juncker criticised the British press, saying their attention on him was a 'rather desperate move'. Mr. Juncker had earlier stated that he would not beg for the UK's support to become the head of the European Commission.

On the 7 June 2014 Christine Lagarde ruled herself out as a potential candidate for the job of European Commission president.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Europe on course for ‘grand coalition’ after election http://www.europeansources.info/record/europe-on-course-for-grand-coalition-after-election/

ESO: Background information: The European Parliament’s election of the President of the European Commission http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-european-parliaments-election-of-the-president-of-the-european-commission/

EurActiv, 30.05.14: EU leaders should respect citizens' choice, says Tsipras http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/eu-leaders-should-respect-citizens-choice-says-tsipras-302517

EurActiv, 02.06.14: Katainen prepares for Commission, eyes Barroso’s job http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/katainen-prepares-commission-eyes-barrosos-job-302528

EUObserver, 02.06.14: EU states at odds over Juncker http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/124428

The Guardian, 02.06.14: David Cameron accused of 'blackmail' over European Union power struggle http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/01/david-cameron-accused-of-blackmail-over-eu-power-struggle

The Guardian [Opinion], 02.06.14: Trapped between Ukip and the EU, Cameron plays a risky game http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jun/02/ukip-eu-cameron-referendum-merkel-jean-claude-juncker

Euro|Topics, 02.06.14: Power struggle over Commission presidency http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER144393-Power-struggle-over-Commission-presidency

EurActiv, 03.06.14: Merkel says Juncker can be approved with ‘qualified majority’ http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/merkel-says-juncker-can-be-approved-qualified-majority-302548

EurActiv, 03.06.14: Blair gives Cameron advice on Europe, denies interest in EU job http://www.euractiv.com/sections/uk-europe/blair-gives-cameron-advice-europe-denies-interest-eu-job-302552

Financial Times, 02.06.14: Council must block Juncker (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE144403-European-elections-Council-must-block-Juncker

BBC News, 03.06.14: Blog: How far will Merkel back Juncker? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-eu-27679173

BBC News, 03.06.14: Profile: EU's Jean-Claude Juncker http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27679170

Deutsche Welle, 04.06.14: EU rival Schulz issues support for Juncker presidency http://dw.de/p/1CBYP

viEUws, 02.06.14: Post European Elections Debate: Is Juncker the best hope for Europe? http://www.vieuws.eu/eu-institutions/post-european-elections-debate-is-juncker-the-best-hope-for-europe/

EurActiv, 03.06.14: Merkel eyes IMF's Lagarde for EU Commission President http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/merkel-eyes-imfs-lagarde-eu-commission-president-302578

Deutsche Welle, 03.06.14: US faces post-election leadership vacuum in EU http://dw.de/p/1CBFd

Spiegel Online International, 03.06.14: Ex-Premier Blair: 'British Understand the Folly of Leaving the EU' http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/interview-with-former-british-premier-tony-blair-on-eu-and-reform-a-973226.html

BBC News, 02.06.14: Tony Blair: UK must help Europe to 'reconnect' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27660951

EUObserver, 04.06.14: Merkel seeks to square the circle on Juncker and UK http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/124479

EurActiv, 05.06.14: Think tanks brush portrait of next EU Commission chief http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/think-tanks-brush-portrait-next-eu-commission-chief-302604

EurActiv, 04.06.14: ‘Get out of EU,’ ex-French PM Rocard tells Britain http://www.euractiv.com/sections/uk-europe/get-out-eu-ex-french-pm-rocard-tells-britain-302605

Spiegel Online International, 04.06.14: Cameron's Empty Threat: Britain Risks Losing an Ally in EU Feud http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/cameron-risks-losing-merkel-as-ally-in-eu-feud-a-973389.html#ref=rss

The Guardian, 04.06.14: Merkel performs balancing act as row continues over top European Union job http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/04/angela-merkel-faces-tricky-balancing-act-in-row-over-top-eu-job

EUObserver, 06.06.14: Juncker 'will not kneel' before Brits http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/124511

EurActiv, 06.06.14: No clear backing for Juncker on G7 sidelines http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/no-clear-backing-juncker-g7-sidelines-302646

The Guardian, 05.06.14: Juncker: I won't beg UK to back my bid for European commission presidency http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/05/juncker-european-commission-presidency-cameron

Euro|Topics: Who's saying what: Wrangling over top EU post http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/debatten/links_2014_06_juncker/

Euronews, 07.06.14: IMF boss rules herself out for top European Commission job http://www.euronews.com/2014/06/07/imf-boss-rules-herself-out-for-top-european-commission-job/

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