Von der Leyen’s Difficulties in Forming the New College

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BRUSSELS – French Commissioner and successor Thierry Breton announced his resignation on Monday morning, September 16, by posting on X, the former Twitter account, the letter he had just sent to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In the letter, the liberal politician cites “recent developments” and unspecified “questionable governance.” The decision comes at a time when Ms von der Leyen is clearly struggling to develop her new team.

Relations between the two political leaders have been increasingly difficult over the past five years. In the spring, the French commissioner publicly highlighted the alleged difficulties the president was having in getting the support of her movement, the People’s Party, in her race for re-election as head of the European Commission. Beyond the obvious personal incompatibility, the conflict was also about political strategy.

In the recent past, the Commissioner has directly criticized Elon Musk owner of X, apparently without notifying the president. At the heart of the initiative was the American businessman’s interview with former President Donald Trump in mid-August. Another case that caused tensions was Ms von der Leyen’s proposal to appoint Markus Pieper, an MEP from the European People’s Party, as an envoy for small and medium-sized businesses. The Frenchman was so critical publicly that the MEP resigned.

The letter understands that Ms von der Leyen asked Paris to withdraw Thierry Breton’s candidacy. Why? The commissioner speaks of “personal reasons”. In addition to the vacillations between the two, the reader also ponders the issue of gender. However, the politician once again makes it clear in the letter that the president allowed governments who wanted to confirm their candidate not to submit to her request to have two names, a man and a woman, to choose from.

The dramatic and unexpected resignation of Thierry Breton underscores the difficulties facing the formation of the new College of Commissioners, also because the President has chosen to have a committee with an equal number of men and women. The President is expected to present her new team to the leaders of the parliamentary group in Strasbourg tomorrow, Tuesday 17 September. It is not clear at the moment whether the appointment will be confirmed.