German MEP in running to lead Greens’ EU election campaign

German MEP Terry Reintke is in the running to lead the Greens European election campaign, she announced Wednesday.

"I want a Europe that fights for climate justice. A Europe of fair wages and good work. A Europe of freedom and democracy. I want to bring Europeans together to make this happen," she said.

Reintke is already one of two co-presidents of the Greens group in the Parliament. The EU-level party, the European Greens, will field two so-called Spitzenkandidaten, at least one of whom must be a woman, and the membership will elect them in Lyon, France in early February next year.

Those who champion the Spitzenkandidaten system, such as the European Greens, argue that it democratizes the EU elections, where 27 countries return MEPs to Brussels and Strasbourg. The informal process suggests that the lead candidate of the largest political group in the Parliament should get first dibs at running the European Commission — however this did not happen last time around.

The Greens look unlikely to pull off another so-called green wave, which saw their group of MEPs increase in 2019. According to POLITICO's Poll of Polls, if elections were held today the group would drop to 44 seats, down from the current 72.

French Green senator Mélanie Vogel is one of the co-chairs of the European Greens and is Reintke's partner. Asked if this presented a conflict of interest, Reintke told POLITICO: “The decision will be taken at the congress in Lyon. There are hundreds of delegates that are going to choose the people, and I mean the process has already been decided by the last council in Vienna, the whole procedure is very transparent.”

Asked why the European Greens are supporting the Spitzenkandidaten process, a spokesperson wrote: "Citizens have the right to know which persons the political parties will put forward for top jobs, such as the Commission presidency. Backdoor horse-trading between the member states in the European Council for the EU’s top job can no longer be tolerated."

For more polling data from across Europe visit POLITICO Poll of Polls.