Macron proposes loyalist Sejourné as commissioner in place of Breton. Ursula von der Leyen: the team tomorrow

French President Emmanuel Macron is proposing Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné as European Commissioner to replace Thierry Breton. This was announced by the Elysée Palace. French President Macron expresses "his thanks to Thierry Breton, who has been an excellent European Commissioner" and who announced his resignation this morning in a letter addressed to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The Elysée Palace, in the communiqué - also circulated by the EU Commission's spokesperson - in which it proposes Stephane Sejourné as European commissioner, emphasises that President Macron 'has always defended the objective for France of a key portfolio' within the EU executive, 'centred on the themes of industrial and technological sovereignty and European competitiveness'.

In the communiqué, the Elysée Palace explains that the involvement of Sejourné, 39, former group leader of the Reew Europe Liberals in the European Parliament and a loyalist of Macron, "will allow the agenda of European sovereignty to be fully advanced". Breton 'has been instrumental in advancing a policy of European sovereignty in the areas of digital technology', say Elysée Palace sources, 'support for the technological and industrial base of European defence and the holding of the EU single market during the Covid crisis'.

Emmanuel Macron claims a key portfolio for France, focusing on the themes of industrial and technological sovereignty and European competitiveness. This was emphasised by Elysée Palace sources, recalling that 'this has been the common thread of all the contacts we have had with the President of the European Commission since she was elected by the European Parliament' in July.

After Breton's resignation and Paris' appointment of Stéphane Séjourné in his place, European Commission President von der Leyen still hopes 'to be in a position to present the new college tomorrow, but twenty-four hours in politics can be long'. This was said by a European Commission spokeswoman during the daily press briefing. The announcement of the college by von der Leyen tomorrow is therefore still subject to 'confirmation', she stressed.