Jean-Claude Juncker has been centrally involved in the running of European institutions for most of his professional life.
He was Europe's longest-serving prime minister, heading the Luxembourg government for 18 years between 1995 and November last year. His involvement in a spying scandal precipitated last year's general election in Luxembourg, when the junior coalition party in government withdrew its support for Juncker's Christian Social People's Party. It followed a parliamentary report that found Juncker "politically responsible" for failing to inform lawmakers of "irregularities and supposed irregularities" by state intelligence service SREL.
Juncker's euro credentials are unrivalled – he was one of the signatories of the Maastricht treaty, and his decision to move between French, English and German in his speech yesterday underlines his commitment to
multilingualism.
Regarded as a skilful mediator, he is a strong proponent of European federalism. The new EPP candidate for European Commission president has been forced to defend his drinking habits in recent weeks, following reports in Benelux and German media.
