U.K.’s Cameron in losing battle over Juncker bid

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British Prime Minister David Cameron intensified his campaign Friday against the nomination of Jean-Claude Juncker as the European Commission president; Juncker is the frontrunner for the position after the parliamentary group endorsing him (the European People’s Party, EPP) won the most seats in European parliamentary elections last month. In a speech to journalists, Cameron emphasized that Juncker was “not elected by anyone” and that the correct nomination process by state leaders had been sidestepped. What makes the nod tricky is that according to the Lisbon Treaty, national leaders must nominate the commission president while taking into account the elections.

VISUAL CONTEXT: EUROPEAN ELECTIONS

Cameron is driven here by unease over Juncker’s integrationist and federalist stance, his attachment to the notion of “ever closer union”, and his perceived reluctance (or inability) to effect the radical reforms needed to heal the economically flailing bloc, not to mention fear that the former Luxembourg prime minister could hasten Britain’s departure from the E.U. The Economist notes:

A federalist or left-wing president of the European Commission would greatly impede the prime minister’s attempts to persuade senior figures in his own party, let alone ordinary Britons, to vote to remain in the E.U. in such a plebiscite.

If Cameron fails to derail Juncker’s bid, he faces not only a dent to his credentials in Brussels but at home. After the Europhobic Ukip’s impressive showing in European elections last month, alongside anti-E.U. parties like France’s Front National, the Europe question is sure to be front and center during next year’s general election.

But the British premier looks to be on the losing side, despite support from Sweden and the Netherlands, also opposed to Juncker’s nomination. On Thursday, leaders of the primary political groups in the European Parliament reaffirmed their support for Juncker’s nomination. Remember that the Luxembourgian nominee was endorsed by parliament’s most powerful group, the European People’s Party (EPP), which includes Germany’s CDU, or Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party. Meaning that in his fight to block Juncker’s bid, Cameron is going up against Merkel, who herself was reportedly lukewarm about the nominee until pressure from within her cabinet prompted her to voice her support.

So what to expect? Juncker’s bid is likely to go through, especially with defectors from Cameron’s Tory party supporting the nomination. (Cameron is already backed into a corner after his European parliamentary bloc moved to include the anti-Euro German party, the AfD, despite the premier’s opposition; the move has upped tensions with Merkel, and illustrated Cameron’s waning influence in the group.) European leaders are set to discuss the nomination at a summit at the end of the month, though a final decision may not come until September or October. Until then, look for Cameron to continue his efforts – and cross swords with Merkel, who has suggested his vocal campaign is forestalling any chances of a quiet compromise over Europe’s next top bureaucrat.