Greens-EFA Co-Chair Daniel Cohn-Bendit (France) has suggested organising a primary for the European Commission presidency in 2014. The idea, aimed at creating a Green, Socialist, Liberal and Communist alliance to counterbalance the EPP’s dominance, was evoked during a meeting with French presidential candidate and MEP Eva Joly (Greens-EFA) in Strasbourg, on 14 March.

Thinking out loud, Cohn-Bendit speculated there could be a run-off between Guy Verhofstadt (Belgium), representing ALDE, current EP President Martin Schulz for the S&D and French MEP Jean-Luc Mélenchon for the GUE-NGL. He adds that if the Greens want it, he could also be a contender for this European primary.

Asked by Europolitics, Schulz admits having heard the idea. Would he take part? “As president of the European Parliament I can’t answer such a question,” he said, adding he was “concerned by the question”. Schulz recalled that the Party of European Socialists (PES) decided, in November last year, that it would present a candidate for the European Commission presidency in 2014. Europolitics also asked Verhofstadt whether he would be candidate to become the next EU executive chief. “We shall see,” he replied enigmatically.

Schulz and Verhofstadt have both decided not to exclude any options. Mélanchon was not available for comment.