EU Commission: why did Breton resign?
Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner responsible for single market and industrial policy, has resigned saying he is not available for re-elected Ursula von der Leyen's new EU commission. French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed his former foreign minister Stéphane Séjourné for France's commission seat in Brussels. Commentaries in Europe's press suggest that Breton's departure was not voluntary.
The price of disloyalty
Breton is now paying for his open antipathy towards Commission President von der Leyen, Der Standard concludes:
“Ahead of the EU elections he announced his intention to become the new president of the EU Commission. He did not hide the fact that he thought little of 'the German', Ursula von der Leyen, and openly questioned her authority wherever possible. She has now hit back, repaying his disloyalty with a withdrawal of trust. Von der Leyen simply asked Paris for a new candidate for commissioner for her team instead of him. And Macron delivered, which is actually quite astonishing.”
Von der Leyen wants to rule alone
The Commission president can't tolerate strong personalities at her side, La Repubblica comments mockingly:
“The 'expulsion' of the Frenchman Thierry Breton is part of this logic. That of a system of 'all-encompassing decision-making power'. ... Because 'Ursula Two' doesn't want any obstacles. And by exploiting the weakness of almost all major national governments, starting with the French and German ones, she has pushed through her dictates. She demanded and obtained from the Elysée that Breton, who along with commissioners Josep Borrell, Frans Timmermans and Paolo Gentiloni was unsparing with his criticism of her, be 'deposed'. ... She is forming a weak commission, without leading figures, so that she alone is in the limelight.”
Childish and undignified
The Süddeutsche Zeitung criticises the way Breton went about resigning:
“Breton has no higher powers that grant him the right to be a commissioner in Brussels. Throwing a tantrum like an angry child because you didn't get a lollipop at the supermarket checkout - metaphorically speaking - is, well, childish. The same goes for Breton's announcement that he is resigning from his post with immediate effect, rather than waiting until the new commission takes office. The Frenchman has thrown in the towel, leaving von der Leyen to clean up the mess. But such behaviour is incompatible with the office of an EU commissioner. Being one of Europe's most important representatives requires a little more control, dignity and sense of responsibility.”
France letting itself be pushed around
French President Macron is kowtowing to the President of the European Commission, Le Figaro complains:
“By replacing the sharp edges of the former captain of industry with the polished edges of his current foreign minister, Stéphane Séjourné, he is bowing above all to von der Leyen's authoritarianism and her avowed allergy to the French activist. ... After agreeing to help Ursula von der Leyen remain in her post, Emmanuel Macron is now taking orders from her, helping her to settle scores and encouraging her dirigisme. To say that the episode has tarnished France's prestige would be an understatement. In Brussels, the champion of the continent's 'strategic autonomy' is now being openly treated like a 'small' country.”
Two figureheads must go
La Stampa sees entirely different motives:
“Breton and [competition commissioner Margrethe] Vestager were the figureheads of European digital policy, which gave rise to fundamental laws such as the GDPR (data protection), the DSA (Digital Service Act) and DMA (Digital Market Act) and most recently the AI Act; as well as a flood of infringement proceedings for various abuses against large US tech companies. Together they ruled and together they faced the barrage of harsh accusations pronounced by Draghi with the presentation of his report on European competitiveness on 9 September.”