Former French minister and outgoing member of the European Commission, Thierry Breton, announced that he was resigning immediately from his post, amid differences with its president, Ursula von der Leyen. In a press release posted on social media on Monday, September 16, he claims that Ursula von der Leyen asked France to propose another candidate to join her Commission.
“I resign from my position as European Commissioner, with immediate effect”Mr Breton states in this letter. Official candidate proposed by Emmanuel Macron, he explains that the President, who is in the process of forming the new team of the European executive for a five-year term, has “We ask France to remove our name”.
“A few days ago, in the final stages of negotiations on the composition of the future College, you asked France to withdraw my name – for personal reasons that you never discussed directly with me – and proposed, as a political compromise, a supposedly more influential portfolio for France in the future College.” commissioners, writes Mr. Breton. “In light of recent events, which once again demonstrate questionable governance, I must conclude that I can no longer exercise my functions within the College.”concludes.
Stéphane Séjourné’s European commitment
President Emmanuel Macron immediately proposed his resigned Foreign Minister, Stéphane Séjourné, as European Commissioner. “focused on the issues of industrial and technological sovereignty and European competitiveness”announced the Elysée. Stéphane Séjourné was « President of Renew Group [centristes et libéraux] in the European Parliament during the previous legislature and meets all the required criteria. Its European commitment will allow it to fully implement this sovereignty agenda”adds the presidency.
The appointment of the new French commissioner in Brussels will be finalised “in good understanding” between Matignon and the Elysée, as well as between France and the European Commission, Agence France-Presse learns from the Prime Minister’s entourage. Michel Barnier “I trust in the next French Commissioner to be able to work actively on the action and success of the next European College, in the general interest of the European Union”we added.
Relations between the German leader and Breton were notoriously tense since the latter led a revolt within the Brussels executive in the spring to question the president’s management style, considered to be lacking in collective power. The French commissioner had publicly questioned Breton’s ethics.me von der Leyen after the appointment at the end of January of an envoy for small and medium-sized enterprises, a highly paid position within the Commission.
The post was given to German MEP Markus Pieper of the European People’s Party (right), a few weeks before a congress in Bucharest in early March during which the EPP gave its support to a second term for Ms.me Von der Leyen. The controversy resulted in a vote of no confidence in the European Parliament against Ms.me von der Leyen, in the midst of the campaign for the European elections in June, and finally the withdrawal of Mr Pieper.
