"We have made it very clear that, for us, there is no agreement with the far right, because they do not share our vision, our project for a strong Europe. What they want to do is not for Europe, so how could we make a coalition? We want to build a stronger Europe and they want to dismantle it, I do not see how we could make a coalition with these people", said Nicolas Schmit, head of the list of the Party of European Socialists.

In the same vein, the candidate for Renew Europe Now (liberals), Sandro Gozi, said he did not understand why the European People's Party (EPP) and its head of the list, Ursula Von der Leyen, "are ready to open up" to the Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), who "are absolutely against Europe", receiving applause from the audience.

"I fight against [Matteo] Salvini, [Giorgia] Meloni, [Marine] Le Pen. We say no to alliances with the far right", he insisted, referring respectively to the leaders of the Italian parties League and Brothers of Italy and the French National Union, all from the radical right.

Asked about the Dutch liberal party VDD, in negotiations to support the government led by Geert Wilders (far right), Gozi said that the political group will analyse the issue the day after the elections.

Stressing that "there is no government or agreement yet", he considered the position to be "a mistake".

Speaking at the entrance to the debate promoted today by the European Parliament in Brussels, the European Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights also said that "a change in Europe is necessary", proposing to "give people confidence and hope" through "very strong concrete proposals".

The main candidates ('spitzenkandidaten') for the presidency of the European Commission are participating today in a debate in Brussels, with the absence of the representatives of the far right, in the third and last face-to-face before the European elections, scheduled between 06 and 09 June and in which almost 400 million citizens of the 27 Member States of the European Union (EU) vote.

Also in statements upon arrival, the candidate for the European Greens, Terry Reintke, stressed that the June vote takes place at a "crucial moment for Europe".

"Citizens feel it and we have to do everything we can to mobilise for these elections, to mobilise people to vote for democratic parties, and of course today I want to convince voters to vote for the Greens", added Terry Reintke, also in an allusion to the far right.

The liberal candidate for Renew Europe, Sandro Gozi, said he hoped "that this debate will contribute to a greater turnout in the European elections".

"I hope to be able to encourage our citizens, especially young citizens, especially citizens who are voting for the first time, (...) because the 2024 European elections are the most important elections for us. This is where we decide our collective destiny, this is where we decide whether we want a more powerful and more democratic Europe", concluded Sandro Gozi.

Walter Baier, from the European Left, said he expected "a substantial debate" on "real-life issues such as jobs, decent and affordable housing".

This is the third debate that brings together the top candidates ('spitzenkandidaten') of the EU parliamentary benches for the European elections.

Organised by the European Parliament and the European Broadcasting Union, today's debate is attended by the main candidates from the largest parties represented in the European assembly.

The 'spitzenkandidat' of the European People's Party and current leader of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will participate in the debate, but did not make any statements upon entry.

The figure of the main candidates - in the German term 'spitzenkandidat' - emerged in the 2014 European elections, with the largest European parties presenting their choices for future president of the Commission, although the model was not followed in 2019.

This is the procedure through which European political parties nominate top candidates for the position of President of the European Commission, with this role being assigned to the candidate capable of gathering the greatest parliamentary support after the vote.

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