French Commissioner Thierry Breton resigns after being removed from the future European Commission

The French commissioner, Thierry Bretonwhich had been initially proposed by Emmanuel Macron to continue a second term in the Community Executive, has announced this Monday, surprisingly, his resignation with immediate effect. He does so after learning that Von der Leyen has maneuvered to remove him for “personal reasons.”

Both They aired their disagreements in public during the final stretch of the previous legislature and Breton, who until now held the portfolio of Domestic and Industrial Marketnow accuses the German of “questionable governance.”

[Von der Leyen sopesa dar a Teresa Ribera la codiciada cartera de Competencia y alejarla de Transición]

“A few days ago, in the final stages of negotiations on the composition of the future college, you asked France to withdraw my name, for personal reasons “who has never discussed it directly with me,” Breton wrote in a letter to Von der Leyen that he himself made public on his Twitter account.

The Frenchman also reveals that, in exchange for his replacement, the president offered Macron “as a political counterpart.” a supposedly more influential portfolio for France in the future school.”

“Over the past five years, I have worked tirelessly to defend and advance the common European interest, above national and partisan interests. It has been an honour. However, in light of recent events – which are further evidence of questionable governance – I have to conclude that I can no longer fulfil my duties at the College,” Breton writes.

“For all these reasons, I hereby resign from my position as European Commissioner, with immediate effect,” concludes the letter, which is also addressed to Von der Leyen’s chief of staff and the Secretary General of the Commission.