22-25 May’s European elections are the first to be held under the Lisbon Treaty, which grants the European Parliament the power to vote on the president of the EU executive, the European Commission.

Five European parties have nominated a campaign figurehead, or 'Spitzenkandidat', that serve as their candidate to head the EU executive. Putting such 'faces' on the pan-European campaigns is hoped to counter the decreasing voters’ turnout.

In the weeks before polls open on 22-25 May, the candidates face each other in a series of 'Presidential Debates'. These debates are broadcasted by national and European media.

>> Follow our topic page for the EU Presidential Debates 2014 and in LinksDossier on the EU elections 2014.