"Who’s in line for the big job? Has she a chance?" Questions you might hear in Leinster House ahead of Taoiseach Enda Kenny naming his Cabinet or junior ministers. But they were actually heard in the European Parliament this week. And they were not about jobs in Dublin, writes Conor McMorrow of our political staff.
The speculation was around Irish MEP Mairead McGuinness. Could she succeed Martin Schulz as President of the 751 member European Parliament? His term concludes in January and there was some talk in the corridors of European power this week that the Midlands North-West MEP could be elected to succeed him. Ms McGuinness is currently one of the 14 vice-presidents of the parliament.
German MEP Schulz became the first president in the history of the European parliament to be re-elected for a second two-and-a-half-year term in mid-2014. While he has a number of months left in the role (and a third stint cannot be completely ruled out) it’s understood that much of key behind-the-scenes talks and manoeuvring on his successor will take place before the parliament’s summer recess.
There’s a possibility that Mr Schulz will continue in the role for an unprecedented third two-and-a-half year term. But Ms McGuinness was among the European People’s Party (EPP) members being mentioned as a possible successor by non-Irish MEPs and staffers this week. Other EPP names in the shake-up at this early remove, are French MEPs Alain Lamassoure and Elisabeth Morin-Charter; former EU Commissioner for Industry and current Italian MEP Antonio Tajani and Slovenian MEP Alojz Peterle.
Should the position come up, the president of the parliament tends to come from a larger member state so this could go against Ms McGuinness. In her favour, a look at the spread of votes for the election of European Parliament vice presidents in 2014, shows the Irishwoman won the second highest number of votes of all 14 successful candidates. So she is clearly well-regarded.
Ireland’s four Fine Gael MEPs – Ms McGuinness, Deirdre Clune, Sean Kelly and Brian Hayes – are among the 215 members of the European People’s Party (EPP). Last time around the Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), of which Mr Schulz is a member did a "grand coalition deal" with the centre-right EPP and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe group (ALDE) that saw Schulz re-elected.
Given that the EPP is the largest political grouping in the parliament, if Ms McGuinness can get the group’s nomination, she is in with a good shout of becoming the second ever Irish MEP to hold the prestigious role. Pat Cox was the first Irish person to serve as president of the European parliament from 2002-2004. It’s early days but watch that space.
Also in Strasbourg this week, it was interesting to hear two prominent figures quote Pope Francis. Last week the pope was presented with the prestigious Charlemagne Prize. The prize honours those who have made a notable contribution to European unity and co-operation. In his address, Pope Francis questioned what has happened to Europe "the champion of human rights democracy and freedom?"
The opening of the parliament last Monday coincided with ‘Europe Day’ or ‘Schuman Day’. On 9 May 1950 the former French foreign Minister Robert Schuman made the declaration that paved the way for the European Coal and Steel Community, the forerunner of the EU.
It is often dubbed a mundane place, but the parliament incorporated a powerful rendition of Beethoven’s 'Ode to Joy' by four young musicians in the Hemicycle or debating chamber on Europe Day.
Marking the day before the musical interlude, President Schulz pointed out that Europe is "facing stormy times" and spoke of how Pope Francis has stressed the importance of the EU rediscovering its founding values.
These sentiments were echoed by ALDE group leader Guy Verhofstadt. Citing the Pope, the former Belgian prime minister stressed the need for Europe to lay new and solid foundations.
The threat of terrorist attacks, the tragedy of the ongoing migrant crisis and the unknown unknowns of a possible British Exit from the EU after next month’s referendum leave the EU at a crossroads.
Mr Verhofstadt says that whether Britain opts in or out next month, the EU should seize the moment after the 23 June poll in the UK and start a discussion on "new solid foundations" for the union.
Following US President Barrack Obama’s recent intervention in the EU debate and Pope Francis’ comments last week, the ALDE leader wryly remarked, we have had two good pro-European speeches – one form the Pope and one from Obama – "but the problem is that neither of them are European!"
