European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker speaks during a press conference after a meeting with France’s Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve (Unseen) at the European Commission in Brussels on February 6, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / EMMANUEL DUNAND
Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Union’s powerful executive Commission, said Saturday he would not seek a second term when his tenure expires in 2019.
“It was a fine election campaign” in 2014, Juncker told Deutschlandfunk radio. “But there won’t be a second one, because I won’t be putting myself forward as a candidate for a second time.”
Juncker, 62, a conservative former prime minister of Luxembourg, took office on November 1 2014 after a long spell at the helm of the Eurogroup, gathering ministers of countries which share the euro.
Presidents of the Commission are appointed for a five-year term, which is renewable.
The post is elected by the European Parliament, on a proposal by the European Council, which comprises heads of state or government.
Juncker was chosen despite fierce objections by Britain, which regarded him as too federalist.
