Adds socialist group position, comment by Simon Busuttil

The Maltese government is backing Jean-Claude Juncker, former prime minister of Luxembourg, to become the next EU commission president, even though he comes from the European Popular Party.

Government spokesman Kurt Farrugia told Times of Malta that the decision was in line with statements made before the European Parliament elections by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat that that the candidate of the group which got most votes in the elections should be given the first opportunity to form a majority and become commission president.

Malta was thus backing Mr Juncker, in the hope that his programme would include important priorities for Malta.

Mr Juncker visited Malta before the EP elections as guest of the Nationalist Party and had paid a courtesy call on Dr Muscat. During the elections, the Labour Party had backed the socialist candidate for the commission post, Martin Schulz. The PES group was runner up in the European elections.

However Mr Schulz and the socialists are now also backing Mr Juncker.

Mr Juncker's pitch for the commission presidency is also being backed by, among others, German Chancellor  Angela Merkel."

"The German chancellor has very clearly said, including in her recent speech to parliament, that she is in favour of Jean-Claude Juncker becoming the next European Commission president and that she will work towards him getting a majority," spokesman Steffen Seibert said.

Opposition is being spearheaded by British Prime Minister David Cameron, who said it was nonsense to suggest that European voters had chosen Mr Juncker.

Mr Cameron does not want Mr Juncker to get the job as he views him as too much of an old-style federalist who will obstruct his push to reform the European Union and persuade British voters of the merits of staying within the 28-nation bloc.

"Most Europeans did not vote in the European Parliament elections. Turnout declined in the majority of member states. Nowhere was Mr Juncker on the ballot paper," Cameron wrote in an article.

BUSUTTIL WELCOMES GOVERNMENT POSITION

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil welcomed the Maltese government's position. "It is good that the Maltese government is backing Mr Juncker for president of the European Commission. I welcome this news.

"The rules of the game are clear: the candidate must come from the party that did best in the EP elections - the EPP," Dr Busuttil said.