German media cools on Juncker

The battle to become the next president of the European commission has been all but decided: in spite of heavy British resistance, Jean-Claude Juncker looks certain to be officially nominated in the next two days.

But among the German media, whose broad support for Mr Juncker (59) has been crucial in steering Angela Merkel to throw her weight behind the former Luxembourg prime minister, a mild sense of irritation with the lead candidate’s recent behaviour is starting to spread.

On Tuesday, the German press criticised Mr Juncker for moonlighting as a public speaker throughout his candidacy. He is still under contract with as many as three speaking agencies and since the European elections on May 25th has graced a meeting of the German Security and Defence Industry Association and a European tyre trade fair.

Papers such as Bild and Suddeutsche allege such behaviour gives lobbyists exclusive access to one of Europe's most important public officials.

In Germany, public speaking engagements are a particularly sensitive issue since Dr Merkel’s rival in last year’s elections, the Social Democrat candidate Peer Steinbruck, was criticised for similar sidelines, eventually bowing to pressure and declaring a list of speaking engagements and the fees he was paid.

Mr Juncker says he has declared his income with the European parliament but has so far declined to make it known to the public, raising doubts about his commitment to transparency.

Helga Trupel, a German Green MEP, told Bild: "I expect that Mr Juncker will show full transparency regarding his activities as a public speaker and the fees he received. Any impression that these could lead to a conflict of interest between those associations that invited and paid him and his political role have to be refuted at once."

Rumours of an alcohol problem – first raised by Der Spiegel and picked up by British tabloids after the election – may be more easily dismissed as a slur. But many in the pro-Juncker camp believe he should have been more proactive in batting away the allegations. "Juncker's dogged silence since the day of the election results is stoking resentment," wrote Spiegel Online. – (Guardian service)