Europeans want a say on the next Commission president: Poll

EurActiv ^ | 06 September 2013

[Olog-hai]

European citizens are more inclined to vote if they are given the chance to choose who will be the next president of the European Commission, according to a survey released today (6 September).

A new Eurobarometer report, published by European Parliament today (6 September), polled some 27,600 European citizens on their views on the EU, one year before the European Parliament elections in May 2014. …

Some 70% of people polled … said that they favored the direct election of the Commission president in the future. Of the respondents, 31% said this was because “EU decisions would seem more legitimate” and 30% said “it would reinforce democracy within the EU”. …

[Olog-hai]

All that would do would create an elected chief executive with (along with his unelected czars) the sole power to write laws and pass them, with the European Parliament continuing to act as rubber stamp.