Italian Foreign Minister
Federica Mogherini would be a "good candidate" to replace
Catherine Ashton as the EU's high representative for foreign
affairs, but several member states are opposed to this
hypothesis, sources close to Jean Claude Juncker said Tuesday.
"She is considered a good candidate, but she has 10-11
countries against her," said the sources ahead of a vote in the
European Parliament on whether to ratify the nomination of
Juncker, the candidate of the centre-right European People's
Party (EPP), as the new president of the European Commission.
The Italian government, however, said Mogherini had the
support of the countries with governments in the Socialist bloc
and said she still could be voted in despite any eventual
opposition.
"Juncker was nominated by a majority vote," said Italian
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Sandro Gozi referring to
opposition from Britain and Hungary to Juncker's nomination at
last month's EU summit.
"No one has ever raised any objections with us, but if
there were, it would mean that the high representative will be
nominated via a majority vote.
"Juncker's nomination is part of a deal which sees the
high representative go to the Socialists.
"Federica Mogherini has the unanimous support of all the
Socialist leaders".
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