New candidates throw MEPs’ race wide open

Date: 15/11/01

By Martin Banks

TWO more candidates this week entered the race to become the next president of the European Parliament.

The assembly's smaller political groups have put forward their own contenders to challenge Socialist David Martin and Liberal Pat Cox.

The new candidates are Frenchman Francis Wurtz of the United Left Group (GUE) and Jens-Peter Bonde, Danish chairman of the Europe of Democracies and Diversities group.

Their decision to stand could have a decisive impact on the election, due to take place on 15 January.

Liberal leader Cox is likely to have the support of the Conservatives as well as his own party (284 votes) after a deal with current President Nicole Fontaine, while Scotsman Martin should be guaranteed the 181 votes of his group.

But it is the 161 votes of the minority groups that could sway the outcome of the poll. Bonde, 53, told European Voice he wanted to stand so that the views of the smaller groups would be aired during the election campaign. "There is blatant discrimination against the smaller groups and independent MEPs - many are not realistically able to speak in Parliament," said Bonde, who was first elected to the Parliament in 1979 and is one of its longest-serving members."Mine will be a single-issue campaign - parliamentary reform. Cox and Martin are both splendid candidates but I will be looking to one or the other to take up the issues we believe should decide the presidency. If they do, I will probably stand aside, but if they don't I will contest the election." Bonde, chairman of the SOS Democracy Intergroup which represents the smaller political groups, warned Cox and Martin "they should not take their support for granted".

Wurtz, also 53, is former head of the Communist Party's international department. He said: "My candidacy is based on continuing the actions I have taken during the first half of this legislature, both within my own group and outside. Given the current balance of political forces, I do not expect to gain a majority. Rather, my candidacy aims to show support for a Europe which is not identified with the 'big market,'" said the former teacher.

Meanwhile, Cox this week told European Voice that enlargement was the "single biggest" issue facing whoever succeeds Fontaine. Parliamentary reform was also an "inescapable" requirement of the next presidency, he added.

Speaking of his own chances in the election, he said: "I remain optimistic that I will attract sufficient broad-based support to win." The Irishman refused to be drawn on claims by Martin last week that Cox lacked sufficient experience for the post.

• European Voice and the Campaign for Parliament Reform will be hosting a head-to-head public debate between the candidates in the European Parliament on 28 November.

Two more candidates have entered the race to become the next president of the European Parliament. They are Francis Wurtz of the United Left Group (GUE) and Jens-Peter Bonde, chairman of the Europe of Democracies and Diversities Group.