The Nationalist Party has congratulated Jean-Claude Juncker who was today chosen as the European People's Party candidate for the European Commission Presidency.

The former Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Mr Juncker obtained 382 votes with 245 voting for his challenger Michel Barnier. Former Latvian prime minister Valdis Dombrovskis dropped out of the race yesterday morning.

PN leader Simon Busuttil congratulated Mr Juncker soon after he was chosen and expressed his satisfaction that the EPP would be nominating a politician who was a close friend of the Maltese and who knew the realities faced by small countries in the EU.

The new Commission president will replace Jose Manuel Barroso, who has held the post since 2004.