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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 |
| (2 months 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. | |
| “It is no tragedy if we end up voting with only a qualified majority,” Ms. Merkel told Parliament, referring to a system of weighted voting that would be held if European Union leaders could not reach their usual consensus on the candidacy. | “It is no tragedy if we end up voting with only a qualified majority,” Ms. Merkel told Parliament, referring to a system of weighted voting that would be held if European Union leaders could not reach their usual consensus on the candidacy. |
| Mr. Juncker, the former prime minister of Luxembourg, led the center-right bloc that won European Parliament elections in May, but he is seen by Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain as the kind of remote technocrat who stirs anti-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, the former prime minister of Luxembourg, led the center-right bloc that won European Parliament elections in May, but he is seen by Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain as the kind of remote technocrat who stirs anti-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. Cameron spoke by telephone on Wednesday with Ms. Merkel and the Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, to underline his opposition to Mr. Juncker’s candidacy to lead the European Commission, the union’s executive arm. In a statement, Mr. Cameron’s office said the leaders agreed that if a consensus could not be reached, a vote should be held in Brussels on Friday. | Mr. Cameron spoke by telephone on Wednesday with Ms. Merkel and the Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, to underline his opposition to Mr. Juncker’s candidacy to lead the European Commission, the union’s executive arm. In a statement, Mr. Cameron’s office said the leaders agreed that if a consensus could not be reached, a vote should be held in Brussels on Friday. |
| In a further blow to Mr. Cameron, he lost the support of the Swedish prime minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, who, according to Swedish news reports, said Wednesday that he would not try to block Mr. Juncker’s nomination if he had a qualified majority of the votes. | In a further blow to Mr. Cameron, he lost the support of the Swedish prime minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, who, according to Swedish news reports, said Wednesday that he would not try to block Mr. Juncker’s nomination if he had a qualified majority of the votes. |
| In the past, Europe’s heads of government selected the commission candidate. But this year, the center-right bloc won support for its idea that the winner of the Parliament elections should also get the presidency. | In the past, Europe’s heads of government selected the commission candidate. But this year, the center-right bloc won support for its idea that the winner of the Parliament elections should also get the presidency. |
| Mr. Reinfeldt had previously sided with Britain in arguing that the union’s top job should not depend on the outcome of parliamentary elections. This month, he held a gathering of change-minded European leaders, including Mr. Cameron and Ms. Merkel, that Britain had hoped would solidify opposition to Mr. Juncker. But Mr. Reinfeldt’s new position effectively torpedoes the British efforts. | Mr. Reinfeldt had previously sided with Britain in arguing that the union’s top job should not depend on the outcome of parliamentary elections. This month, he held a gathering of change-minded European leaders, including Mr. Cameron and Ms. Merkel, that Britain had hoped would solidify opposition to Mr. Juncker. But Mr. Reinfeldt’s new position effectively torpedoes the British efforts. |
| 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. He has promised that if he is re-elected next year, he will hold a referendum on Britain’s membership in the European Union by 2017, partly in response to pressure from Euroskeptics in his own Conservative Party. | 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. He has promised that if he is re-elected next year, he will hold a referendum on Britain’s membership in the European Union by 2017, partly in response to pressure from Euroskeptics in his own Conservative Party. |
| Ms. Merkel 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 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 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 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.” | “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.” |
| 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. |