Luxemburgse premier Juncker wil Prodi niet opvolgen als voorzitter van de Europese Commissie (en)

Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker, favourite to take over as Commission President after Romano Prodi, has ruled himself out of the race.

In a radio interview on Wednesday (4 February), the Christian Democrat leader said he did not want to put himself forward as a candidate to succeed Mr Prodi.

He said that he intends to seek re-election in Luxembourg's general election on 18 June and that he has no wish to move to Brussels.

The Luxembourger was widely tipped to take over at the head of the Commission when its new mandate starts in November.

But there are plenty of other names being mentioned including Guy Verhofstadt of Belgium, Greek leader Costas Simitis, Austria's Wolfgang Schüssel and Denmark's Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Antonio Vitorino - the current justice and home affairs Commissioner.

Former Belgian prime minister Jean-Luc Dehaene - a conservative politician - is also a strong candidate.

He could win the key backing of the rightwing European People's Party which could remain the biggest party in the European Parliament after the June elections.