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Merkel Plans to Ignore Cameron’s Resistance to Jean-Claude Juncker Merkel Plans to Ignore Cameron’s Resistance to Jean-Claude Juncker
(about 4 hours later)
BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany made it clear on Wednesday that Britain would fail if it tried to stop the nomination of Jean-Claude Juncker as the next head of the European Commission.BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany made it clear on Wednesday that Britain would fail if it tried to stop the nomination of Jean-Claude Juncker as the next head of the European Commission.
“It is no tragedy if we end up voting with only a qualified majority,” Ms. Merkel told Parliament, referring to the candidacy of Mr. Juncker, the former prime minister of Luxembourg.“It is no tragedy if we end up voting with only a qualified majority,” Ms. Merkel told Parliament, referring to the candidacy of Mr. Juncker, the former prime minister of Luxembourg.
Mr. Juncker led the center-right bloc that won last month’s European parliamentary elections, but he is seen by Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain as the kind of remote technocrat who stirs anti-European Union sentiment. Anger at Brussels propelled nationalist and populist parties to their strongest showing in last month’s vote since European elections started in 1979. Mr. Juncker led the center-right bloc that won last month’s European Parliament elections, but he is seen by Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain as the kind of remote technocrat who stirs anti-European Union sentiment. Anger at Brussels propelled nationalist and populist parties to their strongest showing in last month’s vote since E.U. elections started in 1979.
Mr. Cameron, who apologized on Tuesday for hiring the former newspaper editor Andy Coulson, convicted in a telephone hacking case, as his spokesman in 2007, is sure to lose if he forces a vote on Mr. Juncker when European leaders meet in Brussels on Friday. Mr. Cameron is sure to lose if he forces a vote on Mr. Juncker when European leaders meet in Brussels on Friday.
However, Mr. Cameron appears to feel that his position at home, where he must call elections by mid-2015, would be strengthened by a show of resistance to Brussels. Mr. Cameron has promised that if he is re-elected next year, he will hold a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union by 2017, partly in response to pressure from within his own Conservative Party over Britain’s role in Europe. However, Mr. Cameron appears to believe that his position at home, where he must call elections by mid-2015, will be strengthened by a show of resistance to Brussels. Mr. Cameron has promised that if he is re-elected next year, he will hold a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union by 2017, partly in response to pressure from within his own Conservative Party over Britain’s role in Europe.
Ms. Merkel, a Christian Democrat, went out of her way this month to underscore Britain’s importance to the 28-nation European Union. Germany views Britain as a bastion of liberal economic thinking that helps dampen the statism of France and what Berlin views as the profligate tendencies of southern European countries. Ms. Merkel, a Christian Democrat, went out of her way this month to underscore Britain’s importance to the 28-nation European Union. Germany views Britain as a bastion of liberal economic thinking that helps dampen the statism of France and what Berlin views as the profligate tendencies of Southern European countries.
She won strong backing for that pro-British view on Wednesday from her Social Democratic coalition partners, though it was qualified with support for Mr. Juncker’s candidacy.She won strong backing for that pro-British view on Wednesday from her Social Democratic coalition partners, though it was qualified with support for Mr. Juncker’s candidacy.
“No one wants Britain to leave the E.U.,” said Thomas Oppermann, the leader of the Social Democrats in Parliament. “But no one has the right to veto the choice of the top candidate” in a vote, he said. “No one wants Britain to leave the E.U.,” said Thomas Oppermann, the leader of the Social Democrats in Parliament. “But no one has the right to veto the choice of top candidate.”
Despite her pro-British sentiments, Ms. Merkel implicitly rebuked Mr. Cameron 10 days ago, criticizing anyone who used “threats” in an effort to impose his will on the European Union.Despite her pro-British sentiments, Ms. Merkel implicitly rebuked Mr. Cameron 10 days ago, criticizing anyone who used “threats” in an effort to impose his will on the European Union.
Ms. Merkel’s statement on Wednesday made it clear that Germany, without which nothing gets settled in European politics, favors using the option of a qualified majority to settle the debate over Mr. Juncker.Ms. Merkel’s statement on Wednesday made it clear that Germany, without which nothing gets settled in European politics, favors using the option of a qualified majority to settle the debate over Mr. Juncker.
The leaders are expected to discuss and probably approve his nomination on Friday, one day after opening their summit meeting with a visit to the World War I battlefields of Ypres, Belgium, to mark the 100th anniversary of the conflict. The leaders are expected to discuss and approve his nomination on Friday, one day after opening their summit meeting with a visit to the World War I battlefields of Ypres, Belgium, to mark the 100th anniversary of the conflict.
Ms. Merkel also made clear that she would rebuff any attempts by France and Italy to relax stringent budgetary rules. The two countries have been seeking more time to implement changes that would curb government spending.Ms. Merkel also made clear that she would rebuff any attempts by France and Italy to relax stringent budgetary rules. The two countries have been seeking more time to implement changes that would curb government spending.