Tajani says EPP to confirm VDL as candidate for EC presidency

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 8 - The next president of the European Commission will be chosen in accordance with the outcome of the European elections and the European People's Party (EPP) will confirm the candidature of the incumbent leader Ursula Von der Leyen, Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister and Vice-Chairman of the EPP Antonio Tajani said on Friday.
    "The treaties foresee that the president of the Commission is be chosen taking into account the results of the election of the new European Parliament," said Tajani at the Pope John XXIII Community in Fabriano, where he is participating as godfather at the baptism of a Nigerian girl who has been reunited with her mother, a guest of the community.
    "The EPP will hold its Congress in Bucharest in February and I believe we will confirm the candidature of Ursula Von Der Leyen," he told reporters in response to a question on the possibility that former Italian Bank of Italy chief, premier and president of the European Central Bank (ECB) Mario Draghi could be indicated by French President Emmanuel Macron as the next president of the European Commission.
    "We will have to wait for the response of the popular vote and decide on the basis of the indications from European citizens indicate," he added. (ANSA).