D66 MP Jan Paternotte wants Prime Minister Mark Rutte to ensure that Hungarian President Viktor Orbán does not get the gavel of the European Council if current chairman Charles Michel leaves. Paternotte appeals to Rutte’s seniority in Brussels.
Michel will participate in the European elections in June. If he wins a seat in the European Parliament on June 9, he is expected to step down as council president in mid-July. If no successor is found before then, the gavel will fall into the hands of the head of government of the country that currently chairs the Council of the European Union.
Normally that would not be a problem, except that Hungary will be the chairman from July. That would mean that enfant terrible Orbán would become Michel’s temporary replacement. According to Paternotte, this must be avoided at all costs, because Orbán can “frustrate” decision-making in that role. Today, Paternotte appeals to Rutte in the debate on the European Council.
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“I think that we as the Netherlands have a special responsibility to prevent Orbán from getting his hands on the gavel,” says Paternotte. “After Orbán, Rutte is the longest-serving head of government in the European Union. Rutte himself does not want to become President of the Council, because he wants to join NATO, as we know thanks to his transparency. But he can very well ensure that a successor is found. And not just in June, but before the Easter Bunny walks into the country.”
Angela Merkel
The follow-up must be arranged before Easter, Paternotte emphasizes. “This way you not only ensure that there is no chance that Orbán will suddenly get the hammer, but you also have time to ensure that there is a strong chairman. We do not know whether Donald Trump will become president again in the United States, but if he is, you even more need a President of the European Council who can act on behalf of all heads of government and has authority.”
Paternotte suggests former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel. “But you can also think of Mario Draghi, who is seen as the Johan Remkes of Europe.” In any case, Michel’s successor should not be someone who is “seen as a part-time chairman,” Paternotte warns.
Israel
Earlier in the morning, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Paternotte believes that the Netherlands cannot lag behind. “We must commit to a pause in the fighting,” the liberal said.
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“It is very telling that David Cameron makes this call,” says Paternotte. “So far, Rutte has always said that the United Kingdom is on our side and says it is not yet time for a ceasefire. Now that Cameron is making this call, the Netherlands must join in. There are far too many innocent victims in Gaza.”
Moreover, if the Netherlands does not advocate a ceasefire, we risk becoming “diplomatically isolated”, Paternotte warns.
British Foreign Prime Minister David Cameron has just called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. @D66-MP @jpaternotte believes that the Netherlands can no longer lag behind. “We must commit to a pause in the fighting.” #WNL pic.twitter.com/enxyCyJvnP
— Sven op 1 (@Sven_op_1) January 25, 2024
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Door: Peter Visser
2024-01-25 12:37:00
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