Ansip's Chances of Landing Council Presidency Minimal, Says Top Eurocrat
European Commission Deputy Secretary General Henrik Hololei said former Estonian PM Andrus Ansip is unlikely to be named the new President of the European Council, but he could net a good commissioner spot.
He told Postimees on Wednesday that Ansip's European party, the liberals group ALDE, is not powerful enough in the European Parliament to push through his candidacy.
“Two from 28 [commissioner positions] – it must be a great compromise and the starts must be aligned for the liberals to be given a high-ranking post. The question is not about people and their competence, but what the political landscape in Europe looks like,” he said.
ALDE, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, has 76 seats of 751 in the EP. Three of Estonia's six MEPs are part of the alliance, with the Center Party also aligning themselves with ALDE, besides the two Reform Party seats.