Following the circulation of press rumours about an unrealistic under-the-table deal between the presidents of the S&D Group, Gianni Pittella, and the ALDE Group, Guy Verhofstadt, which would pave the way for the Liberal leader to take the presidency of the European Parliament; the spokesperson for Gianni Pittella, Jan Bernas, excluded the possibility of this scenario or any other under-the-table deal with other groups. He reiterated that President Pittella has received unanimous support from the whole of the Group to run until the very end of the electoral process and to become the next president of the European Parliament.
"The Parliament needs a real and truly competitive election where several candidates run for the presidency on the basis of different programmes and proposals. There is nothing to be afraid of – this is just how democracy works."
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