Commissioner Breton’s Rebellion against Von Der Leyen Appointment: A Test of EU Integrity and Transparency

The European Commission has been rocked by a rebellion led by French Commissioner Thierry Breton against German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s appointee to a senior business role. Breton expressed his hope that the position would be filled promptly, but the appointment was criticized for crossing party lines. This dissent against von der Leyen was instigated by Breton and three other commissioners as the European election campaign grows more intense.

MEP Markus Pieper, who is part of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union like von der Leyen, decided to resign from his role as SME envoy just hours before he was set to begin. Despite having signed the contract, Pieper had a change of heart due to pushback from both the Commission and the European Parliament. During the selection process, two other female candidates received higher scores on tests for the position. The appointment was criticized by EU lawmakers and commissioners for crossing party lines.

In an interview with Handelsblatt, Pieper accused Breton of questioning the selection process out of political motives. He emphasized that he had successfully completed a rigorous selection process and that Breton’s actions were disrespectful. The dispute highlights tensions between France and Germany within the European Union, as well as concerns about nepotism and transparency in appointments within the Commission.