While attention in Britain is mostly focused on how it will leave the European Union, on the rest of the continent the key event of 2019 will be the election of the European Parliament on May 23 to 26.
As well as elections to the EU Parliament – reduced to 705 MEPs by the likely departure of Britain – the heads of other institutions and organizations will be shuffled in a game of musical chairs that is already in full swing. Those affected include the EU Council, currently headed by Donald Tusk, the EU Commission, headed by Jean-Claude Juncker, and the Presidency and part of the board of the European Central Bank, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, among others.