Klaus Iohannis has support in Brussels to become president of the European Council in 2019

Klaus Iohannis has support in Brussels to become president of the European Council in 2019 – media

Romanian president Klaus Iohannis has the support of high-ranking European officials to become the next president of the European Council in 2019, when the mandate of Donald Tusk expires, Hotnews.ro reported citing sources in Brussels. It is not clear if Iohannis, whose mandate expires at the end of 2019, is interested in this position in Brussels.

The President’s office in Bucharest did not make any comment on this subject.

According to Hotnews.ro, Iohannis has the support of many European officials and may benefit from an unofficial rule inside the EU, to offer the position of president of the European Council to an official from EU’s Eastern bloc if the position of president of European Comission, EU’ executive branch, is taken by an official from Western Europe.

Iohannis’s chances depend on the results of the elections to the European Parliament scheduled to occur in 2019. According to sources, Iohannis’s chances to take up the post are high if Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, will become president of European Comission in 2019.

The mandate of Donald Tusk expires in December 2019.