Dramatic turn of events in Brussels: Frenchman Thierry Breton slammed the door of the European Commission on Monday, saying he had been disowned by President Ursula von der Leyen, before the Élysée proposed replacing him with Stéphane Séjourné.
Emmanuel Macron has chosen one of his closest associates for this influential post: the resigning Minister of Foreign Affairs, a former MEP and former leader of the centrist Renew group.
France is aiming for a portfolio “focused on the issues of industrial and technological sovereignty and European competitiveness”, according to the Élysée.
The resounding departure of Thierry Breton has plunged the Brussels microcosm into shock, while the names and portfolios of the new commissioners were potentially expected on Tuesday.
“I am resigning from my position as European Commissioner, with immediate effect,” announced the former Minister of the Economy under Jacques Chirac, in a letter to Mme von der Leyen published on the social network X. With a touch of humor that is his custom, he prefaces his message with a photo of a whiteboard: “my official portrait for the next mandate,” he explains.
Thierry Breton, 69, claims that the head of the European executive, who is in the process of forming her team for the next five years, has called for his head.
“A few days ago, in the final stretch of the 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 within the future College” of Commissioners, he wrote in his missive.
“In light of the latest developments – which once again demonstrate questionable governance – I must conclude that I can no longer exercise my functions within the College,” concluded Mr. Breton.
No comments in Brussels
Ursula von der Leyen announced that she had accepted his resignation, thanking him for the work carried out over five years, through a spokesperson, Arianna Podesta, refusing any further comment.
“It was Thierry Breton’s choice to make this letter public,” she stressed.
Finally re-elected as head of the Commission in July, the German leader was due to present the names and portfolios of the new commissioners to the European Parliament on Tuesday, on the sidelines of a plenary session in Strasbourg. She still “hopes” to “be in a position” to do so, said Mme Podesta.
The relationship between Mme Von der Leyen and Mr Breton had been notoriously tense since the latter led a revolt in the Brussels executive in the spring to challenge the president’s authoritarian leadership style.
The Frenchman had publicly questioned M’s ethicsme von der Leyen after the appointment in late January of an envoy for small and medium-sized enterprises, a highly paid position within the Commission.
The post had been awarded to German MEP from the European People’s Party (right) Markus Pieper, a few weeks before a congress in Bucharest at the beginning of March during which the EPP had given its support to a second term for Mr.me von der Leyen.
The controversy resulted in a vote of no confidence in Mr.me von der Leyen, in the midst of campaigning for the European elections in June, and ultimately to the withdrawal of Mr Pieper.
Lack of women
The composition of the European executive expected on Tuesday is a balancing act, revealing the weight of the member states, the political forces and the orientations of the EU.
Before Mr Breton’s withdrawal, the situation was already uncertain due to a blockage on the Slovenian side, where the approval of the new candidate Marta Kos by the national parliament is awaited.
The departure of the man who had established himself as a figure in the Brussels executive by tackling the abuse of power by digital giants further complicates the equation.
It comes after a controversy that the leaders are trying as best they can to deflate over the lack of women in the new team being formed.
Following the surprise resignation of the outgoing French commissioner, Green MEP Marie Toussaint called on Emmanuel Macron to “appoint a woman to work towards parity within the Commission”.
In vain since it was Stéphane Séjourné who was chosen.
In addition, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who was due to speak in Strasbourg on Wednesday as part of the six-month presidency of the European Union, announced on Monday that he was cancelling the speech due to Storm Boris affecting central Europe.