European Council President Charles Michel is now a “laughing stock” after abruptly announcing he was quitting his job to stand in June’s elections, a Brussels insider has said.
And they also revealed a cruel joke is now doing the rounds after the former Belgian Prime Minister dodged tough questioning in the European Parliament – citing a back problem.
Mr Michel has been due to appear before the assembly last week to explain his decision to seek election as an MEP.
If, as appears highly probable, he is successful, he would stand down from his current job in mid-July – months before his term is due to end in November.
The move is especially controversial because Mr Michel’s early departure would mean Viktor Orban, Hungary’s right-wing Prime Minister, chairing meetings of the council, which consists of the leaders of the EU27. Mr Orban is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in Europe.
The source told Express.co.uk: “It’s fair to say Mr Michel is something of a laughing stock at the moment.
“There’s quite a good joke which is circulating among MPs at the European Parliament at the moment.
“Michel goes to the doctor and complains about back pain. The doctor replies: ‘But sir, you have no backbone.’”
In December Brussels unblocked £8.73billion (€10.2billion) in frozen EU cash earmarked for Hungary, triggering a furious reaction from the European Parliament.
The Parliament is ready to launch legal action over allegations that the EU’s executive arm gave in to blackmail from Mr Orban to get his approval to start EU membership talks with Ukraine.
Guy Verhofstadt, Mr Michel’s compatriot, and like him a former Belgian Prime Minister, raged: “European Parliament ready to go to Court and abolish Hungarian voting rights… to stop the Commission doing dirty deals with Orban…”
Referring to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, he added: “When will @vonderleyen be Guardian of the Treaties, not friends with autocrats?”
Footage showed Mr Verhofstadt berating Ms von der Leyen as she grinned awkwardly in the Parliamentary chamber.
Mr Michel was scheduled to attend last Wednesday’s plenary in Strasbourg along with Ms von der Leyen to justify the EU’s dealings with Mr Orban on rule-of-law issues.
However, he pulled out, with his office citing “acute lumbago”.
A disgruntled Parliamentary official told Politico: “Now he lets VDL deal with it alone.”
A spokesman for Mr Michel said: “On doctor instruction the President must restrict his movements,” adding that the 48-year-old would instead speak to the Parliament “at the beginning of February.”
Mr Michel is still able to undertake desk duties according to his schedule, yesterday speaking to world leaders including Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Greece’s Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Today he has a call with Peter Pellegrini, Speaker of Slovakia’s National Council.
Express.co.uk has contacted Mr Michel via his office for additional comment.
