Saryusz-Wolski out of EPP. His chances to be EC President slim-to-none – Reuters

Jacek Saryusz-Wolski whose bid for the European Council President seat was submitted by Polish government either left or was dismissed from the biggest grouping in the European Parliament, the European People's Party (EPP), depending on who you ask. Saryusz-Wolski said that he left the grouping after it said that it won't support his candidacy, pledging full support for the incumbent Donald Tusk. “I'm leaving the [Civic] Platform at the Poland bus stop,” he wrote on his twitter account. Earlier, EPP president Joseph Daul wrote that “As already stated before, the EPP family stands fully behind its candidate for @eucopresident Donald Tusk,” and added that he has summoned Saryusz-Wolski to provide an explanation regarding his actions. To boost Saryusz-Wolski chances, Polish government sent Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski to lobby for the candidacy. “This is our candidate and he is in the game. This is the only Polish candidate right now for the post of the European Council head. There is no other Polish candidate,” he said. However this attempt, according to the media has been futile. “There is a majority for Tusk, and pleasing Kaczyński is not on everyone's mind in Brussels,” said a senior EU diplomat to Reuters. “Whatever the cost at this stage, we need to get it over with as soon as possible,” another official said. “If there were other candidates, it could have a very unpleasant result. I am afraid that this can result in central and eastern Europe losing its representative, and I would consider that a serious mistake,” Czechia Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said. Saryusz-Wolski is the only other candidate besides Tusk right now, as Poland's former PM enjoys the support of every EU nation other than Poland. The EC President has been appointed unanimously, without putting it to the vote so far. Without it, the position will be decided by a majority vote. An outcome which most EU politicians wanted to avoid in a time where bloc unity is at risk. The decision regarding the seat is expected to be announced this week.