A leading French member of the European Union's powerful executive branch resigned on Monday, criticizing the leadership of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as she seeks to assemble a new team for the next five years.
Thierry Breton, a French business executive and commissioner responsible for the EU's vast internal market, who recently clashed with tech billionaire Elon Musk, suggested von der Leyen had lobbied behind the scenes to appoint another French official in her place on the next commission.
Breton posted a resignation letter to the EU chief on X, saying von der Leyen's resignation was “further evidence of questionable governance and forces me to conclude that I can no longer fulfil my duties in the Council of the EU.”
The Commission proposes legislation to the 27 EU member states to ensure that the rules governing the world's largest trading bloc are respected. It is made up of a broad group of members covering areas similar to government ministers, such as agriculture, the economy, competition, security and immigration.
Mr Breton's sudden resignation came just 24 hours before Ms von der Leyen was due to present her new team to the European Parliament, stimulating speculation that the commission was due to start work on November 1 but may not be able to get started before January.
European Commission spokeswoman Ariana Podesta said von der Leyen accepted Breton's resignation and thanked him for his work during his first term in office. She declined to comment on Breton's public criticism of the president's leadership.
Hours later, President Emmanuel Macron named France's foreign minister, Stéphane Séjourné, as Breton's successor. The committee could not say who would take over Breton's duties. Expanding the European defense industry To produce more weapons and ammunition for Ukraine.
With the aim of maintaining Male to female ratio Von der Leyen, who is taking up her second term as commission president, asked member states to submit the names of male and female candidates for policy committee seats, with most proposing just one candidate, and many of them only male.
Von der Leyen, a former German defence minister, has been pressuring smaller countries to change their minds. In recent weeks, a man who was a leading candidate for the government in Slovenia dropped out and was replaced by a woman.
But France is not a small country in the EU: it ranks alongside Germany as one of the EU's top political powers.
Von der Leyen decides which countries get which posts, with some coveted by countries including those dealing with trade, finance and EU enlargement. Popular posts like vice-president (there are seven in the Commission) are also highly sought after.
Breton suggested that he was the victim of these political maneuvers.
“A few days ago, in the final stages of negotiations on the composition of the future Institute, you asked France to withdraw my name – for personal reasons that you never discussed with me directly – and, as a political trade-off, offered France a more influential post in the future Institute,” he wrote in his resignation letter.
“Another candidate will be proposed going forward,” he said, without elaborating.
Either way, nothing is set in stone: Commission candidates must pass rigorous vetting by the European Parliament before they can take up the post.
Mr Macron helped Ms von der Leyen win one of Europe's most coveted posts and has consistently supported her during her first term. It is unclear why she might risk defying the French president.
Mr Breton has irritated some in the European Commission with his dogmatic approach, and last month, acting without Ms von der Leyen's approval, warned Mr Musk that airing an interview with former President Donald Trump on X could “amplify harmful content”.
Musk, who owns the social media platform, posted an insulting reply, while Trump campaign spokesman Steven Chang called on the EU to “focus on its own business, not on trying to interfere in the US presidential election.”
