Thierry Breton resigns as European Commissioner: tensions and difficulties in the formation of the new college
Thierry Breton's resignation highlights the tensions between him and President von der Leyen and complicates the formation of the new board of commissioners
from our correspondent Bede Romano
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BRUSSELS - French Commissioner and candidate for his succession Thierry Breton announced his resignation this morning, Monday 16 September, by posting on X, the former Twitter, the letter he had just sent to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In the missive, the liberal politician cites unspecified 'latest developments' and 'questionable governance'. The decision comes as Mrs von der Leyen has obvious difficulties in setting up her new team.
The two politicians have had increasingly difficult relations over the past five years. In the spring, the French Commissioner publicly highlighted the President's alleged difficulties in gaining the support of her movement, the People's Party, in the race for re-election as head of the European Commission. Beyond an obvious personal incompatibility, the contrast also concerned the political strategy itself.
In the recent past, the commissioner directly criticised Elon Musk , the owner of X, apparently without warning the president. At the centre was the interview that the American tycoon gave to former President Donald Trump in mid-August. Another case that caused tension was Mrs von der Leyen's proposal to appoint EPP MEP Markus Pieper as SME envoy. The Frenchman was publicly very critical, so much so that the MEP resigned.
From the letter, it is clear that Mrs von der Leyen asked Paris to withdraw the candidature of Thierry Breton. Why? The commissioner speaks of 'personal reasons'. The reader is reminded not only of the vicissitudes between the two, but also of the gender issue. However, again in the missive, the politician explains that the president had allowed the governments that wanted to confirm their candidate not to comply with her request to obtain two names, of a man and a woman, from which to make a choice.
The resounding and unexpected resignation of Thierry Breton confirms the difficulties in forming the new college of commissioners, not least because of the president's choice to have a Commission with an equal number of men and women. The president is expected in Strasbourg tomorrow, Tuesday 17 September, to present her new team to the parliamentary group leaders. It is unclear at this moment whether the appointment will be confirmed.
