Meeting on Saturday at a congress in Lyon, the European Greens have designated their two leading candidates for the next European elections from June 6 to 9, 2024, the German Terry Reintke and the Dutch Bas Eickhout.
The two MEPs who were favorites due to their solid experience in Brussels were elected by a large majority by delegates from 38 countries ahead of the next election where, despite unfavorable polls, they hope to thwart a rise of the far right.
Terry Reintke, 36, has been named leader of the electoral campaign and will then be a candidate for the post of President of the European Commission, according to the lead candidate process (
“spitzenkanditaten”
).
The environmentalists, the fourth group in the European Parliament with 72 elected representatives, are set back in the next election, according to several studies, with some even predicting the loss of a third of their seats.
Speaking before Congress on Saturday morning, Terry Reintke called for
“courage”
to confront
“the risk of a wave from the extreme right”
.
“If we stand up against the far right, if across Europe we raise our voices, then we can gain ground
,” she said.
Like her co-list, she insisted on the defense of freedoms and security in Europe, affirming their support for Ukraine.
“The Greens will support Ukraine as long as necessary
,” she said.
Stronger social ambition
MEP since 2014, Terry Reintke has co-chaired the Greens group since 2022.
Companion of French senator Mélanie Vogel (Les Ecologistes), she distinguished herself in her fights for the rights of women and sexual minorities.
Dutchman Bas Eickhout, 47, is an influential member of the European Parliament's Environment Committee.
A scientist by training, he is one of the main players in the negotiations on Green Deal legislation, noted for his sometimes biting style.
“The Green Deal is a socially just pact
,” he said on Saturday.
“We are going to talk to the farmers, we are going to get out of the Brussels bubble
,” he then declared at a press conference.
In their interventions, the two candidates also gave the main axes of their campaign, centered on the idea that ecology must now carry a stronger social ambition and propose concrete economic solutions.
On Saturday, the congress voted to integrate two new environmentalist parties from Croatia and Lithuania.
Its strategy for conquering European power involves expanding its coalition, particularly towards Eastern countries.
More than pessimistic projections, party officials prefer to remember the electoral breakthroughs in the recent elections of twelve member states and the fact that their elected representatives already participate in seven governments in the Union.