“It is not logical that one political party that had less than one third of the votes in the European elections have three out of the three key positions,” said Sergei Stanishev, leader of the European Socialists Party, in a Reuters interview.

“I think a conversation about a progressive candidate for the presidency of the European Council should be initiated among our prime ministers and heads of state“, add Stanishev. He said he would propose the start of such a debate at a meeting of Socialist leaders due to take place next week in Malta, just before an EU summit on Feb. 3.

The European Council, which groups the 28 EU heads of state and government, must decide by May whether to give Tusk a second, 30-month mandate. They will prefer a consensus choice, though if need be can take a majority vote. Nine EU countries are currently led by the center-left.

“It is not about personality. It is a matter of political balance,” told Stanishev, adding that the center-right’s stranglehold on top EU posts could also help fuel the rise of Eurosceptic, far-right parties across the continent.