European liberals defy conventions (again) and bet on three names for the EU elections
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, a German politician who chairs the Bundestag's defence committee, will be joined by two sitting MEPs, Sandro Gozi and Valérie Hayer, in a so-called "Team Europe" that would represent the liberal family in the EU-wide poll, scheduled to take place between 6 and 9 June. The unconventional move, officially unveiled during the party's kick-off event on Wednesday evening, is a direct challenge to the Spitzenkandidaten system under which each party is expected to nominate one lead candidate to preside over the bloc's most powerful institution: the European Commission. ...