According to German daily "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung", Donald Tusk is the favourite in the race for the chairmanship of the European People's Party (EPP). Furthermore, the daily wrote, the leader of the EPP in the European Parliament, Manfred weber, is said to have withdrawn his bid for the position.

The new chief of the party, who would replace the current head - Frenchman Joseph Daul, is to be chosen at the faction's summit in Zagreb in November.

According to "FAZ", Bavaria-born Manfred Weber has resigned from running for the position of EPP's chairman. The reason for his decision is said to have been resistance of the European parties the faction is comprised of. They are said to oppose the idea of German politicians, except for the new head of the EU executive, being at the helm of another two most important functions in the biggest party in the EP.

"At the moment, the outgoing chairman of the European Council ending his term in Novemebr, Donald Tusk, is the top candidate. It is being said that the former Poland's prime minister has promised Daul in September, to inform about his plans soon," the conservative daily wrote, adding that the Polish politician has an advantage over the Bavarian, because he had been running a government.

From the EPP's point of view, it would mean strenghtening of the grouping's position on the European scene. Furthermore, it would mean a return to practice from before 2013, when prime ministers were being chosen to chair the EPP.