French President Emmanuel Macron has chosen a new European Commissioner to replace the resigning Thierry Breton. The French leader offered the post to the country’s outgoing foreign minister and close political ally Stéphane Séjourné.
The Elysee Palace specified that France expects to receive a portfolio “that will allow it to focus on ensuring industrial sovereignty and European competitiveness.” The presidential administration recalled that Séjourné was chairman of the liberal faction in the previous convocation of the European Parliament. The Elysee Palace believes Séjourné fulfils the necessary criteria.
Breton’s unexpected resignation came on Monday, a day before von der Leyen was due to announce the composition of the next commission after June’s European Parliament elections.
Breton had served as the bloc’s internal market commissioner since 2019 and French President Emmanuel Macron nominated him for reappointment, which was taken for granted. His portfolio also includes defence and space, and he had been tipped for promotion to vice-president of the commission in charge of industrial growth. However, Breton said von der Leyen had asked him to resign.
Breton, one of the EU’s most influential figures, had a strained relationship with von der Leyen during their five years together in the EU executive.
Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, leader of the party Debout la France (France Arise), commented on Breton’s resignation on X:
Another humiliation for Macron and France. Ursula von der Leyen has sacked French Commissioner Thierry Breton. I will not mourn his fate, but it shows the unacceptable subordination of our leaders to the Brussels Commission.
