France’s Breton steps down as EU commissioner, takes dig at von der Leyen
French European Commissioner Thierry Breton on Monday said he would step down as a member of the EU executive body over a rift with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, alleging that she had asked Paris to withdraw his candidacy.
Von der Leyen is finalising her list of commissioners for her second term leading the governing body, due to be presented to the public this week.
Breton, a former business executive, was the EU’s industry and internal market commissioner during her first term, overseeing many of the bloc’s most important policies, ranging from industrial arms production to regulating Big Tech.
In his resignation letter, which Breton posted on X, he said von der Leyen “a few days ago” had asked France to withdraw his name as its pick for the Commission “for personal reasons” in return for an “allegedly more influential portfolio”.
Reuters was unable to immediately verify the allegation. Von der Leyen’s office did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
“A few days ago, in the very last stretch of negotiations on the composition of the future of the College, 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 in the future College,” Breton writes.
“In light of these latest developments – further testimony to questionable governance – I have to conclude that I can no longer exercise my duties in the College,” Breton said in the letter.
Each EU member state will have one seat at the Commission’s table, although their political weight and importance varies greatly depending on the portfolio.
The French presidency did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.