FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
BRUSSELS – European citizens (called to vote in the European elections starting from 6 June, the day on which the polls open in the Netherlands, ed.) they prefer Ursula von der Leyencandidate leader of the EPP, or Mario Draghi at the helm of the new EU Commission? The result of a survey shows a head to headwith a two-point advantage for the former Italian prime minister and former president of the European Central Bank: 49% of those interviewed choose Draghi while 47% prefer the outgoing president von der Leyen.
The survey conducted by the Polling Europe opinion research institute in the last week of May, on a representative sample of the European population over the age of 18 (but in Belgium, Germany, Malta and Austria people already vote at 16 and in Greece at 17), has tested the notoriety and approval rating of some potential candidates.
It must be kept in mind, however, that the president of the European Commission is not directly elected by the citizens. It is the heads of state and government, who sit at the European Council, who designate the leadership of the community executive by a qualified majority, taking into account the results of the polls. While the actual election falls to the European Parliament: the candidate will have to win the votes of 361 out of 720 MEPs.
Having made this premise, it is interesting to observe the physical and political geography of preferences. Draghi is leading in Italy (68%) and Southern Europe (59%), von der Leyen in Germany (45%), Spain (56%), Northern Europe (54%), ten points more on former ECB president), Central and Eastern Europe (53%). In France, however, where the National gathering according to the polls he is ahead, Draghi gets just 33% and von der Leyen 29%. The current president of the Commission records the highest approval rating among supporters of his party – the EPP – with 70% against the former prime minister’s 55%, and among the Greens (55% against 46%). While Draghi leads by one point among the liberals (59%), the far right of Identity and democracy (41% versus the president’s 25%), the conservatives of the Ecr (55% vs. 44%) and the Left (40% vs. 38%). Among the socialists there is a tie: 62% consider both suitable. As for notoriety, von der Leyen wins: 62% of those interviewed know her and 21% “vaguely”, in short her name is known to 83% of the sample compared to 63% of Draghi (38% know who she is and 25% vaguely). The EU Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton is known by 15% and vaguely by 26%, for the leading candidate of the PSE Nicholas Schmit the percentages are 14 and 29.
What the European Council will decide still remains an unknown. Until a few months ago, von der Leyen’s reappointment was taken for granted. Now the leaders do not want to reveal their cards. Negotiations will begin on Monday.
