Another successful Spitzenkandidat?

In May 2019, European Union citizens will go to the polls to elect a new European Parliament (EP). The election result will have an important impact on the selection of the next European Commission (EC) president. Several politicians are already official candidates for the post, others are commonly seen as serious contenders. A complex competition is in store – not only between political parties and member states, but also EU institutions: the European Parliament and the European Council. This policy brief offers three possible scenarios of how the rivalry may unfold, each discussing a different candidate – Manfred Weber, Margrethe Vestager and Michel Barnier – and major factors in their success