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Several EU finance ministers voice support for Obama

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-05 07:31

BRUSSELS -- Finance ministers from several European Union (EU) member states voiced support for US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Tuesday when the voting is underway.

Luxembourg Premier and Finance Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who also chairs the euro group of finance ministers, told reporters at the European Parliament in Brussels that he would vote Obama.

"If I were in the United States I would be a member of the Democratic Party, and as a member of the Democratic Party I would vote Obama," he said.

Discarding diplomatic formalities, German finance chief Peer Steinbrueck and his Dutch counterpart Wouter Bos both said "Obama" when asked about which candidate they preferred.

The EU finance ministers gathered in Brussels on Tuesday for a monthly meeting, aiming to forge a joint position on the reform of global financial system in the upcoming summit in Washington on Nov. 15.

But Juncker said he did not expect any big change in the transatlantic relations no matter who will become the next US president, but the US would put more responsibility on Europe.

In an informal meeting in Marseille, France, EU foreign ministers agreed on Monday to jointly and courageously send a letter to the next US president, calling for a partnership as equals in dealing with major global challenges.