EU Council President Charles Michel wants to take part in the next European elections and enter the European Parliament. “I have decided to run in the European elections in June 2024,” the top politician told several Belgian media outlets on Saturday. This means that if he is elected, he will resign as Chairman of the Board.
After the elections – at the end of June and beginning of July – EU heads of state and government will then be able to discuss a successor for the role of President of the Council, the Belgian said. The country's leaders would also have to decide when a successor would take over. “It is relatively easy to organize the successor,” he told the newspaper “Le Soir”, among others.
In the June 9 elections, the 48-year-old will lead the list of the liberal Belgian party Mouvement Réformateur (MR), Michel told newspapers. 2024 is a very important election year in Europe, but also in the rest of the world. “Above all, the European project is at a crossroads and it is necessary to reinforce the legitimacy of European democracy.” The former Belgian Prime Minister said he wanted to play an active role. “I want to be part of the team of builders of the European project and I am applying to continue serving you.”
He wanted to conduct the election campaign in such a way that his responsibilities as President of the European Council were not compromised. The task of the President of the EU Council is to coordinate cooperation and summit meetings between EU countries. Michel took office in December 2019. He wants to hold the position until parliamentarians take office, which is scheduled for July 16th.