Luxembourg PM and CSV President Luc Frieden expressed satisfaction with his party's election results, highlighting their dominance in the EU Parliament with two seats and affirming the continued influence of centrist policies in Europe.
"I am very satisfied, both as Luxembourg government head and as CSV president", Luc Frieden commented on the election outcome on Sunday evening. His Christian Social People's Party (CSV) is now the only one holding two seats in the EU Parliament, which the PM described as a confirmation of centrist policies.
Similarly, the election gains of the European People's Party (EPP) have made clear that the faction will continue influencing the direction in which the continent is heading in the years to come, noted Frieden.
Frieden lauds Macron's call for snap elections
Frieden went on to acknowledge the surge of anti-European parties, but argued that the "political centre" will be "dominating" Parliament in the next years.
When asked about President Emmanuel Macron's decision to call for snap elections in France following the success of the Rassemblement National, Luxembourg's PM described it has an "impressive" move. "It is very clear that the election result in France is one that displeases Europeans. The French President has shown political responsibility and political leadership here by saying that now is the time to see what people want in France", Frieden outlined.
Nicolas Schmit next EU Commissioner?
Frieden believes that the election success of the EPP, the results of the CSV, and the personal gains of Christophe Hansen have made their lead candidate a top contender for the Commission job as promised.
The PM stated: "There is no indication tonight, neither from the national result, nor from the European result, that I will change course from what I outlined on election night and what we negotiated in the context of the coalition, namely that the CSV has the right to propose the next European Commissioner. Tonight's election result, same as the personal result of Mr Hansen, which is an excellent result, does not lead me to offer support to anyone else."
Frieden made the case that it is now clear that the EPP will hold the office of commission president. Negotiations at the European level are expected to unfold over the coming days.
