The Socialists & Democrats have named EU commissioner for jobs and social rights Nicolas Schmit as their lead candidate — or so-called Spitzenkandidat — for the June European elections.
Luxembourg’s Schmit, who has a comparatively low public profile, is poised to interact in a political contest towards the anticipated centre-right candidate and present EU Fee president, Ursula von der Leyen, for the highest job on the EU government.
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The 70-year-old Schmit can be formally elected on the social gathering congress in Rome, in early March.
Earlier to his position as commissioner, he served as overseas affairs and labour minister for the Luxembourg authorities of ex-EU fee president Jean-Claude Juncker and as Luxemburg’s ambassador to the EU.
From 2019, he was additionally an MEP, serving on the parliament’s committee of employment and social affairs.
As a commissioner, a few of his prime proposals embrace the minimal wage directive, the minimal revenue initiative, the SURE instrument and the platform work directive.
”We don’t speak anymore about creating jobs — we’re speaking about creating high quality jobs. The target is to create high quality jobs, to be aggressive, to be modern, and likewise for social justice and social inclusion,” he stated this week throughout a plenary session in Strasbourg.
His candidature was the one one acquired to steer the Socialists and Democrats within the upcoming elections.
”Schmit stands for a stronger Europe that defends its values towards a resurgent far-right,” the socialists stated in a press release.