Macron and his party launch campaign to win European Parliament

BRUSSELS, (Patria) - French President Emmanuel Macron's party, "Republic on the Move", will launch its European campaign for the 2019 European Parliament elections on Saturday, September 29th, with Berlin as its first stop, EURACTIV reports.

The motto of the gathering in the German capital clearly reflects the position Macron has assigned himself in this campaign: For a progressive Europe, against nationalism (Für ein progressives Europa gegen den Nationalismus).

The elections for the ninth term of the European Parliament will be held at the end of May 2019, and Macron currently stands out as the leader of the option for a stronger and more united European Union (or at least its core).

This role of the French President has been further emphasized by the weakening position of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who suffered another defeat this week when the Christian Democratic Union parliamentary group elected a rival candidate, a close associate of Merkel, as its leader.

Macron has previously expressed opposition to the leading candidate (Spitzenkandidat) institution, which pan-European parties and movements put forward as their candidate for President of the European Commission.

With the weakening influence of the European People's Party, and especially the Socialists and Democrats, a significantly different composition of the parliament, as well as the elected commission, can be expected, EURACTIV concludes.