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Angela Merkel faces a lot of resistance on the choice of the future president of the European Commission. In Brussels, May 28, 2019. REUTERS / Yves Herman

Two days after the European elections, the Twenty-Eight met on Tuesday, May 28 in Brussels to know who would occupy the key positions of the EU. At the heart of the debate, the name of the future President of the Commission.

With our special correspondent in Brussels, Anastasia Becchio

The working dinner lasted three hours. Between asparagus, pork tenderloin and strawberries with thyme, the twenty-eight have painted the ideal portrait of the future president of the Commission. They have also probably referred to other important positions in European bodies, such as the President of the Council or the European Central Bank.

For now, no name has emerged from these discussions. Angela Merkel reaffirmed her support for fellow countryman Manfred Weber to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as head of the Commission. " We support our candidate Manfred Weber, others support theirs, " she said.

Before the meeting, the Socialists put forward the name of Dutch Laborist Frans Timmermans, while the centrists gave those of Margrethe Vestager and Michel Barnier.

If the Twenty-Eight bowed to the principle of spitzenkandidat , according to which the personality designated by the political group winning the elections automatically becomes president of the Commission, it is Manfred Weber who should prevail. But this principle seems today to have lead in the wing.

If we can not agree on a name, it is therefore on a vision and priorities that European Heads of State and Government have tried to reach an agreement tonight. Emmanuel Macron had listed his on arrival: the climate emergency, the protection of borders and the reform of the economic and social model.