EU socialists want Barroso confirmation vote postponed

Brussels - The European Parliament's socialist group are to call for a vote on the re-appointment of European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso to be put off for at least a month, socialist leader Martin Schulz said Wednesday. 'We will suggest tomorrow morning ... to postpone the vote until October,' Schulz said, ahead of a meeting with Barroso. Currently, the vote is scheduled for September 16, with Barroso already have the backing of the leaders of all 27-member states, and no rival candidate. The socialist grouping in Brussels were the big losers in European elections in June, coming in far behind their centre-right rivals. Since then, Schulz has spearheaded a campaign to block the centre- right Barroso's re-appointment, arguing that he is too free market and has not done enough to bring EU member states together. 'We don't want Mr Barroso to be an instrument of the prime ministers of the biggest European countries, but to force European integration,' he said on Wednesday. The socialist group is set to quiz Barroso on his plans on Wednesday afternoon, but will not agree a joint position until next Tuesday, Schulz said. Analysts say that the group is split between members who oppose Barroso and those who are under pressure to back him because their home parties have already endorsed him in their capacity as national governments, as is the case in Britain and Spain. Even if the socialists can preserve a united front, they face a tough struggle: Barroso is running unopposed and has the backing of the parliament's two main centre-right groups and all 27 EU member states. Analysts say that their best bet is therefore to delay the vote in the hope that a plausible challenger could yet arise. On Monday, French daily Le Monde reported that French premier Francois Fillon was ready to apply for the job if Barroso's bid fell through.