HELSINKI (AP) — Former Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb says he will run for the head of the EU's powerful executive Commission following next year's European elections.
Stubb announced his bid Tuesday at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, saying he sees himself the "next generation candidate" to lead the EU.
Stubb says he will launch a bid to become the top candidate within the center-right European People's Party in the 2019 European elections. The top candidate becomes the European Commission's next leader should EPP retain its position as the largest group at the EU Parliament.
The 50-year-old is liberal-leaning and headed the Finnish government 2014-2015.
His main rival is likely to be Germany's Manfred Weber, a European lawmaker who has been endorsed by Chancellor Angela Merkel for the post.
