At the European Parliament's behest, and over the objections of U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, the European Union's governments have proposed Jean-Claude Juncker — a candidate national leaders don't much admire, who stands for the kind of EU that a growing number of citizens don't want — as the next head of the European Commission.

The parliament has scored a notable victory — one that it may come to regret.

When it votes later this month to elect its own nominee, the parliament will be putting a "federalist" — meaning a supporter of more powerful EU bodies — in charge of the EU's already strong executive branch. In addition, it will affirm an interpretation of the EU's constitution that increases its own weight in the EU's system of government.