After Thierry Breton quits, France nominates foreign minister Séjourné as European Commissioner

Outgoing French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne. Reuters File

Hours after Thierry Breton announced he would step down as a member of the EU executive body over a rift with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, France on Monday nominated outgoing foreign minister Stéphane Séjourné to become the country’s next European Commissioner.

According to Euro News, citing a statement, Élysée Palace said that the decision was made “in accordance” with newly-appointed Prime Minister Michel Barnier, and confirmed France was angling for a “key” portfolio related to “industrial and technological sovereignty” and “European competitiveness.”

Séjourné’s prior experience, as chair of Macron’s centrist Renew Europe group in the European Parliament and as France’s Minister of Europe and foreign affairs, equips him to take the reins of such a prestigious portfolio, added the statement.

Earlier on Monday, Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for the internal market since 2019 and a close ally of Macron in Brussels, withdrew his bid for re-election abruptly.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my colleagues in the College, Commission services, MEPs, Member States, and my team.

Together, we have worked tirelessly to advance an ambitious EU agenda.

It has been an honour & privilege to serve the common European interest🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/wQ4eeHUnYu

— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) September 16, 2024

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”.

“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.

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.

Meanwhile, the allegations, on which the Commission refrained from commenting on Monday, have drawn fierce condemnation even from Macron’s political rivals in France, reported Euro News.

According to the report, Fabien Roussel, the secretary of the French Communist Party, condemned von der Leyen’s alleged attempts to persuade Macron to replace Breton as “scandalous.”

He accused the Commission chief of undermining France’s sovereignty and “hitting rock bottom.”

Roussel, aligned with the left-wing New Popular Front (NPF) coalition, criticised the Macron-led coalition for appointing Michel Barnier as Prime Minister and supports Breton’s withdrawal as “scandalous.”

Ursula von der Leyen has been pushing for gender parity by lobbying small member states to replace male candidates with women. Most EU capitals rejected her request for both male and female candidates, except those where outgoing Commissioners were seeking reappointment.

Breton’s unexpected withdrawal has disrupted von der Leyen’s team formation.

Political infighting in Slovenia means the government’s candidate, Marta Kos, has still not received the formal green light. The right-wing opposition is up in arms after the original candidate, Tomaž Vesel, was allegedly forced to withdraw his bid amid pressure from von der Leyen for a female alternative.

It remains uncertain if von der Leyen will present her team to the European Parliament’s leaders on Tuesday, with the formation of the next Commission potentially delayed beyond the early November target due to the required parliamentary hearings and votes.

With inputs from agencies