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Manfred Weber, whose bid to be European
Commission president was firmly rejected by EU leaders, blamed French
President Emmanuel Macron and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for his
downfall, and said there were "powerful forces who did not want to
accept the election result."
"There were backroom talks and late-night
sessions in which the Macron and Orbán axis prevailed and the Spitzenkandidat system was dismantled," Weber told Bild on Thursday. "This is not
the Europe I want and I will continue to fight for the democratization of the
EU."
Weber was the center-right European People's
Party's Spitzenkandidat, or lead candidate, in the European election. After
the EPP emerged as the largest group in the election, despite losing seats,
many in the EPP believed Weber should become Commission president.
But his candidacy came in for sustained
criticism and EU leaders on Tuesday nominated another German conservative —
Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen — for the Commission post.
Macron — a leading opponent of the
Spitzenkandidat system — was one of Weber's biggest critics, saying he had
insufficient "experience" and "credibility."
Orbán withdrew his support for Weber after the
German pledged not to accept the position of Commission president if his success depended on the support of Hungary's ruling Fidesz party. Before
then, Weber had faced a barrage of criticism from his opponents on the
campaign trail regarding his close relationship with Orbán.
Weber said the attacks on him were
"surprising" as "Macron's [European] election campaign was
particularly directed against Orbán."
"Macron said 'vote for my Europe, not for
Orbán's.' And suddenly they are working together and damaging democratic
Europe. Now we are in a shambles."
Weber also told Bild "it is clear that
Viktor Orbán has paid me back" because of Weber's criticism of
Budapest's "restriction of fundamental rights."
Weber admitted that the past week had not been
easy for him. "On the other hand, this is the Champions League, so you have to be able to take it. Giving up is not an issue for me. I'm burning for
the European idea," Weber said.
Asked whether he could explain what happened,
Weber said: "I find it very difficult to explain ... I can only say to
my voters that there were powerful forces who did not want to accept the
election result."
Weber on Tuesday officially withdrew from the
race for the European Commission top job, announcing he would instead
continue as the leader of the conservative group in the European Parliament.
He did not stand to be president of the Parliament.
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Israeli settlers have once again attacked religious minorities in the region, this time targeting a church in East Jerusalem.
According to reports, the settlers assaulted clerics and worshippers at the Church of the Sepulchre of Saint Charbel, causing damage to the property and injuring several people. This kind of behavior is not only unacceptable but also undermines efforts to promote peace and stability in the region. Attacks on religious minorities are a direct attack on religious freedom and must be condemned by all. The Israeli authorities must take swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice and hold them accountable for their actions. It is also important to ensure the safety and protection of religious minorities and their places of worship, as guaranteed by international law. this incident is a sad reminder of the ongoing conflict in the region and the need for a comprehensive and just solution. It is up to all of us to work together to promote understanding, tolerance, and respect for different beliefs and cultures, and to build a brighter and more peaceful future for all.
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