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With the announcement of his candidacy for the European elections in June, the current head of the European Council met with sharp criticism from the Twenty-Seven. But his election should be an opportunity to open a debate on this position, whose powers are too limited by the Treaties to prevail and be effective.
The decision of Charles Michel, President of the European Council of Heads of State and Government, to throw in the towel eleven months before the regular end of his second term of two and a half years is a lightning strike that shows how much this function is neither theirs, to say the least Holders still attracted the Member States. In fact, the former Belgian prime minister announced this weekend that he would lead the list of the Reform Movement (MR), his original family, in the European elections next June.
Even if he says he wants to stay in office until he is sworn in as an MEP in mid-July and is certain of his election, it is questionable whether he will be able to do so, as he will have to resign during the election campaign, in May, and then we see how he misdirects the work of the Twenty-Seven when he will practically no longer be there. One might even question whether he should resign immediately, as it is not clear how he can maintain the position of impartial arbiter he is supposed to be while back in national politics.
Contempt for states
Charles Michel is the third holder of this position, created by the Lisbon Treaty of 2007 (entry into force on December 1, 2009).