Belgian politician Charles Michel has unexpectedly announced his early resignation as European Council president, disclosing plans to participate in the European Parliament elections scheduled for June 2024.
In a statement to the Belgian media, Michel expressed his decision to run as a candidate, emphasizing the necessity to account for his work and propose a vision for Europe’s future. A former Belgian prime minister, Michel specified that he would lead the list of the liberal Reformist Movement (MR) party in the European Parliament elections, intending to step down as Council president in July. He plans to continue in his current role until sworn in as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) on July 16.
This unforeseen move has sparked speculation about the future leadership of the European Union, particularly as negotiations for new top positions are set to commence in November when Michel’s official mandate concludes. While EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has not disclosed her intentions for a second term, Michel’s decision introduces uncertainty to the upcoming leadership discussions.
Michel played a pivotal role as Council president in overseeing crucial EU summits addressing issues like the COVID pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The timing of his resignation has drawn criticism, with questions arising about his successor. According to EU procedures, the national leader of the country holding the rotating EU presidency would assume the role until the November election. In this scenario, Hungarian leader Viktor Orban could potentially take over, raising concerns due to his close ties with the Kremlin.
Michel suggested that standard procedures could be altered by a simple majority vote. However, his decision faced criticism, with Dutch MEP Sophie in’t Veld questioning his commitment to the European Union and likening it to “the captain leaving the ship in the middle of a storm.”
The European Parliament elections, slated for June 6–9 across the 27 EU member countries, are expected to trigger intense negotiations for top positions in the European institutions, including the European Commission and European Council.
