Tusk consults EP leaders on next European Commission president

BRUSSELS -- Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, said here on Wednesday that talks have started with European Parliament leaders on the next president of the European Commission.

"Consultations with leaders on appointments are advancing. Talks now also started with European Parliament (EP) leaders on the next president of the European Commission," said Tusk.

The president held "good discussions" with Guy Verhofstadt (candidate of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe); Nathalie Loiseau (top candidate on French President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance list in this May's European elections); and Udo Bullmann (president of the Socialists & Democrats group in the EP), he said on Twitter.

"Tomorrow I'm seeing Manfred Weber," lead candidate of the European People's Party (EPP), the largest political group in the EP.