Is #Vestager best possible compromise candidate for Commission president?

The European Parliament has made it clear that they will reject a candidate that wasn't put forward as a spitzenkandidat. Some MEPs, particularly those in the EPP, argue that Vestager cannot be chosen because she did not present as a lead candidate until the final debate.

It is difficult to see how this argument holds water, as it would mean that had they liberal group won a majority of seats they wouldn't have been able to recommend their choice for President of the European Commission - which would seem to violate the principle of this process. One thing is clear - the Parliament aren't ready to relinquish the idea of a lead candidate just yet.

Guy Verhofstadt MEP, former leader of the group and firebrand has argued that the failure to establish pan-European parties meant that the spitzenkandidat process is dead.

The second most successful party, the S&D, has expressed continued support for their candidate Frans Timmermans, but it would be difficult for the Council to support him unless he became the lead candidate for a coalition of groups. Some have speculated (and there is a lot of speculation at this moment) that he could be offered the post of First Vice-President for a second term.

Much is in the balance. Europe may have a demanding five years ahead of it with a faltering economy and choppy geopolitical water to carefully charter. There are the foreseeable problems that lie ahead and there are also "events, dear boy, events" as Harold Macmillan once said in response to a journalist on what was the main challenge of office (in his case, British Prime Minister). What we know is that successive crises have propelled Europe forward, this ship needs a good captain. Manfred Weber just doesn't cut it.