Charles Michel took many by surprise with his decision (Image: Getty)
Charles Michel’s abrupt U-turn over plans to seek election as an MP in June has left the European Council President “totally humiliated” and wrecked his credibility, Brussels insiders have said.
Mr Michel, the former Belgian Prime Minister, chairs the council, which is the body made up of the leaders of the EU27.
Earlier this month announced plans to put his name forward as a candidate in the continent-wide poll in a move which would have forced him to stand down from his current post in July - months before the end of his term.
However, after weeks of criticism, not least by colleagues in the Parliament itself, the 48-year-old released a statement on Friday confirming he had changed his mind and would now be seeing things through until the autumn.
Dutch MP Michiel van Hoogeveen told Express.co.uk: “It has been a total humiliation for President Michel and has completely wrecked the last remaining credibility he still had.
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Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel have endured a tricky relationship (Image: Getty)
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“He is already known as a weak Council President, totally outflanked by his (on paper) more bureaucratic counterpart Ursula Von Der Leyen.
“He simply doesn't have the required charisma and qualifications to represent the most important body of the European Union.
“Namely to represent the member states and the EU as an intergovernmental organisation.”
Mr Michel had been motivated by the fact that his mandate was up in November, and the fear of unemployment, Mr Hoogeveen suggested.
Michiel Hoogeveen MEP offered a scathing assessment of Charles Michel (Image: Getty)
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He continued: “He quickly declared himself the lead candidate for the European Parliament elections in order to secure his new job within the institutions. Shameless.
“Now after all the commotion, he decided to pull out. The fact that he even considered this role, shows he is completely unqualified to be the President of the European Council.
“Because why did he want to run for member of the European Parliament when he already is President of the European Council? The guy is obviously distracted. Michel made a huge mistake. And I think he quickly regretted it.
“But now he is stuck. He is now no longer taken seriously in any of the EU institutions. Ironically, his fear of being unemployed now has a bigger chance of becoming reality.”
Charles Michel will now step down in November - as originally planned (Image: Getty)
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Pieter Cleppe, Editor-in-chief of BrusselsReport.eu, agreed, telling Express.co.uk: “He doesn’t have any credibility left in Brussels after this.”
Mr Cleppe, who headed up the Brussels office of award-winning British EU affairs policy think tank Open Europe for 12 years, added: “This is also undermining the reputation of Belgian politicians as diplomatic powerbrokers.”
In his statement, issued via Facebook, Mr Michel said of his original announcement: “My choice has given rise to intense media attention and speculation. I had foreseen some of it, given the unprecedented - some would say bold - nature of my approach.
“This has also led to extreme reactions - not within the European Council but outside it - to the prospect of running in the European elections, shortening my term and advancing my successor’s mandate by a few months.”
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He insisted: “I don’t want this decision to distract us from our mission or undermine this institution and our European project nor be misused in any way to divide the European Council, which I believe must work tirelessly for European unity.
“I welcome all political criticism and legitimate arguments. Naturally, every situation has several possible viewpoints. But personal attacks are increasingly taking precedence over factual arguments. I believe this distorts objective democratic discourse.”
On a personal level, the criticism had prompted him to reflect on the meaning and impact of his electoral commitment, Mr Michel explained.
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He added: “For all these reasons, and to maintain the focus of my mission, I will not be a candidate in the European elections. I will devote all my efforts to my current responsibilities with steadfast determination until they come to an end.
“I will always be a fervent advocate of a Europe that is democratic, strong, united and master of its own destiny.
"At the end of this mandate, I will reflect on the nature and direction of my future commitments.”
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