The European Council could be headed by the President of Hungary

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, announced his intention to participate in the elections to the European Parliament. If elected, the leaders EU will have to quickly agree on a successor to this position.

If it is not possible to quickly agree on a candidacy, then Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will become the acting EU President – his country will preside over the EU Council on rotation from July to December, writes UNIAN. Michel informed the Belgian newspapers De Standaard, Le Soir and La Libre of his decision:

“I have decided to stand as a candidate in the 2024 European elections. If elected, I will serve as President of the European Council until I am sworn in as a Member of the European Parliament in mid-July.”

POLITICO comments on the possible scenario, explaining the nuances:

“This scenario – an unchecked Orban leading the Council for six months, immediately after the 2024 European elections – is one that most of the other 26 EU leaders are desperate to avoid, given the escalating tensions between them and Orban over, for example EU support for Ukraine and violation of the rule of law in Hungary.”

This is the first time that the current President of the Council of the EU will be a candidate in the elections to the European Parliament. Due to the fact that the positions of head of the European Council and member of the European Parliament cannot be combined, Michel, if elected, will leave his post early. Charles Michel was to remain in office until the end of November. His decision is legally permissible, but it creates additional pressure on European leaders – they usually have more time to reshuffle and negotiate during the distribution of top positions, which always occurs after the five-year EU elections.

Elections to the European Parliament will take place June 6-9 in all 27 EU countries, European leaders will meet on June 17 and then June 27-28. At these meetings they will likely try to come to an agreement on Michel’s replacement.

Hungary is known to hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December 2024, after Belgium. In June, the European Parliament adopted a resolution expressing “serious concern” about events in Hungary in light of its future presidency.

Viktor Orban himself said that the Hungarian presidency of the EU Council will be “more peacekeeping,” and its goal is to “occupy Brussels.”

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