Wilfried Martens hands over EPP presidency to Joseph Daul

After weeks of uncertainty following the hospitalisation of Wilfried Martens, the European People’s Party (EPP) announced on the 8 October 2013 that its President was handing over all responsibilities of his presidency to Joseph Daul, the EPP group chairman in the European Parliament.

The former Belgian Prime Minister and long-serving President of the EPP deceased on the 10 October 2013, at the age of 77.

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 03.09.13: Wilfried Martens’ hospitalisation opens EPP leadership succession race http://www.euractiv.com/eu-elections-2014/martens-hospitalisation-opens-ep-news-530116

EurActiv, 10.10.13: Long-serving EPP President Wilfried Martens dies at 77 http://www.euractiv.com/priorities/long-serving-epp-president-wilfr-news-530990

European Commission: RAPID: Memo, MEMO/13/872: Message of condolences from President Barroso on the passing away of Wilfried Martens http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-872_en.pdf

Council of the European Union: Press Release: PRES/13/411: Reaction by President Herman Van Rompuy following the death of Wilfried Martens http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/138954.pdf

BBC News, 10.10.13: Belgian statesman Wilfried Martens dies aged 77 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24473476

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