Time to Start Thinking of Hogan’s Replacement
(This article originally appeared in www.thejournal.ie on the15th May 2018) Next year sees the end of the current five year European political cycle and the beginning of the next one. Apart from the election of 750 Members of the European Parliament, we will also see the replacement of the 28 European Commissioners, who serve in the Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Junker. Junker's position is also up for grabs, having announced that he will step down next year. As happened in 2014 the next President will be chosen from the European political group which has the most Members elected to the European Parliament. This Spitzenkandidat process was introduced as part of the Lisbon Treaty, and represents an attempt by the European institutions to provide more direct democracy to the Brussels system. Prior to this process the President was chosen by the Leaders of the Members States. Now their role is reduced, with the intention being that they rubber-stamp the candidate that i