Brussels bureaucrat Martin Schulz ‘to be AXED as MEPs gang up to limit presidential terms’
BRUSSELS bigwig Martin Schulz could be axed from his position as European Parliament chief after Eurocrats called to limit the number of EU presidential assembly terms to two.
Schulz says delay in triggering Article 50 is not Treaty's fault
The EU grandee cruised to a victory during the last presidential election but could now be brutally cut out by MEPs who have thrown their weight behind the amendment.
The amendment in the report on parliamentary rule changes will be debated in November.
Martin Schulz could be axed by MEPs if they pass a new amendment
The order would “promote fresh leadership” according to British MEP Ashley Fox and show the house has “democratic values”.
If introduced, it would scupper any chance of Schulz holding onto a third consecutive term.
Schulz had previously agreed to step aside in January 2017 with Manfred Weber, of the conservative European People’s Party (EPP), expected to take over the top post.
Manfred Weber is set to go head-to-head with Schulz for the Presidency
A spokesman for the European Conservatives and Reformists group, who put forward the measure, told Politico: “It would include terms already served and so, if approved, would prevent current Parliament President Martin Schulz from standing for re-election for a third two-and-a-half year term in January.”
At least 50 MEPs have shown their support for the change and one Parliament official said: “Only MEPs who had expressed an interest were approached, so that figure may not necessarily be indicative of the true level of support.
Schulz sat down with EU boss Jean-Claude Juncker for a 14-minute debate on Brexit
Indeed, we understand that other parties are sympathetic
“Indeed, we understand that other parties are sympathetic.”
The revelation comes after Schulz laid into Theresa May who has insisted she will not activate Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - the legal mechanism for breaking away from the EU - until next year.
He said: "The same country in which the previous Government asked the citizens, 'do you want to leave or stay in the European Union?’ and the majority of citizens said they wanted to leave.
"The same Government is now not triggering the article to leave. It is not a failure of the treaty, it is a failure of the Government of the United Kingdom."