Brussels: French President Emmanuel Macron declared Friday that three top candidates to become head of the European Union's powerful executive arm, the European Commission, have been ruled out of the race by the bloc's leaders, but other leaders weren't so sure. Speaking after a summit with his EU counterparts in Brussels, Macron told reporters that "the point was made that it is impossible for these three candidates to be retained." Center-right lead candidate Manfred Weber from Germany, center-left pick Dutchman Frans Timmermans and liberal choice Margrethe Vestager of Demark were considered most likely to be named to run the commission, the job currently led by Jean-Claude Juncker.
The three were backed by the European Parliament, but Macron opposes the system that made them favourites and wants someone else at the commission, which proposes EU laws and enforces them, for the next five years. Macron said talks have been launched "so that other names emerge."
