By Martin Banks - 12th May 2009
Of course, he [Verhofstadt] would be a very fine candidate
Annemie Neyts
A prominent ALDE MEP has thrown her weight behind Guy Verhofstadt becoming the group's new leader after the European elections.
Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Annemie Neyts said she endorsed a possible Verhofstadt candidature.
"Of course, he would be a very fine candidate indeed," said Neyts, who is president of the pan-European ELDR party.
Graham Watson, the UK MEP who has led the ALDE group for seven years, has announced he will return to the 'back benches' after the June 4-7 election.
Neyts said the election for his successor is not likely to be held until after the poll, "probably in late June." She also praised Watson's "very fine" leadership.
Verhofstadt, who was in parliament to promote his new book, refused to be drawn when asked by this website about his intentions, saying, "I am here only to talk about the book and do not wish to comment on other matters."
Verhofstadt has been widely touted as a successor to Watson although, so far, UK Liberal member Diana Wallis is the only member to formally declare her candidacy.
In a statement, Wallis, a vice president of parliament, said, "There have been a number of rumours about who may or may not be candidates.
"I want to make it clear that I will be. I have received clear indications of support from across the group and beyond which make me believe I should put myself forward.
"I think the new mandate will offer good potential for strengthening and growing the Liberal and Democrat force in the parliament and I would like to play a key role in that.
"I believe after having served as my national delegation leader twice and building on my experience as a vice president of parliament I am ready for a new challenge."
She can rely on the support of fellow ALDE group member, Slovenian MEP Jelko Kacin, who said, "Diana Wallis is one of the most active and committed parliamentarians that I've ever met.
"As vice president of parliament she conducts the votes in such a relaxed and positive mood that she is admired by all political groups. She is more than sensitive to the most difficult issues in the Western Balkans and she has always inspired me how to cope and how to communicate with the people who suffered in a war zone.
“She knows the group and the parliament best and she enjoys the trust of colleagues, so she is the evident choice."
At the launch of his book, called "How Europe can save the world," Verhofstadt made a withering criticism of the EU's "failure" to take a lead in tackling the global downturn.
He said the "27 national recovery plans" in Europe had been dwarfed by those in the US and China and predicted that Europe was heading for "economic stagnation" similar to that of Japan in the 1990s.
In the latest issue of the Parliament magazine, he says the EU must work together if it wants to overcome the economic crisis.
"The newly-elected parliament should take the initiative of forming a European coalition, to create a single European recovery plan and to force the indecisive European commission to take action."
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