The race is open. And the first horse is already on the field. Almost nine months ahead of the 2019 European Parliament elections, the battle who will succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as European Commission President began.

Spain's conservative Popular Party (PP) has chosen last week right-wing congressman Pablo Casado to replace Mariano Rajoy as leader after the former PM was ousted in a no-confidence vote in June. The appointment of the 37-year-old communication chief, who has promised “hope” with a generational revamp of the party, is seen as a swing to the right for it.