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France’s European commissioner for the internal market has resigned and withdrawn his candidacy to serve in a future European Commission, claiming president Ursula von der Leyen offered Paris a more powerful job if French President Emmanuel Macron provided a replacement.
The surprise move by Thierry Breton just 24 hours before von der Leyen had planned to announce her new slate of commissioners is the latest blow to her already troubled process of forming a team to manage the EU’s executive for the next five-year cycle.
The resignation of one of von der Leyen’s most prominent and outspoken commissioners — he oversaw industrial policy, defence and the bloc’s powerful Digital Services Act that regulates big tech companies — further clouds the start of her second term.
“A few days ago . . . you asked France to withdraw my name — for personal reasons that in no instance you have discussed directly with me — and offered as a political trade-off an allegedly more influential portfolio for France,” Breton said in a letter to von der Leyen posted on X.
Von der Leyen’s actions were “further testimony to questionable governance” of the commission, Breton said, adding that he would resign immediately.
The resignation ends a tumultuous working relationship between von der Leyen and Breton, who often clashed over policies and rhetorical style.
Reacting to Breton’s letter to von der Leyen, an EU diplomat said: “No love lost between these two.”
Spokespeople for Breton and von der Leyen did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Breton said France would propose a new candidate, without specifying a timeline.
Breton’s resignation and withdrawal follows a number of countries switching their initial commissioner candidates over the past few weeks in response to von der Leyen applying pressure on capitals to nominate female candidates.
It is unclear whether Breton’s move will mean a further delay to the announcement of von der Leyen’s new team of commissioners scheduled for Tuesday. All nominees, one from each of the EU’s 27 member states, must be approved by the European parliament before they can take up their posts.
Slovenia is also yet to formally nominate its candidate for commissioner due to a domestic political spat.
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