The European Commission is facing growing dissent from several commissioners, including French commissioner Thierry Breton, who have expressed their disapproval of the appointment of a German party ally to a senior business role. Breton has been openly critical of von der Leyen, a German conservative, and has accused her of crossing party lines.
In a surprising move, MEP Markus Pieper resigned from his role as SME envoy just hours before he was set to begin. Although he had signed the contract, Pieper had a change of heart due to pushback from both the Commission and the European Parliament. The appointment was criticized by EU lawmakers and commissioners for crossing party lines.
Pieper, who is part of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union like von der Leyen, spoke out against Breton in an interview with Handelsblatt when he announced his withdrawal from the role. Pieper accused Breton of questioning the selection process out of political motives, which he believed was inappropriate. He emphasized that he had successfully completed a rigorous selection process and that Breton’s actions were disrespectful.
Breton expressed his hope that the SME position would be filled promptly. This dissent against von der Leyen was instigated by Breton and three other European commissioners as the European election campaign grows more intense. As a liberal ally of French President Emmanuel Macron, Breton has openly criticized von der Leyen in recent weeks.
The appointment of Pieper to the SME position sparked controversy as it crossed party lines and many saw it as an attempt to favor one political group over another. The two other female candidates received higher scores on tests for the position during the selection process but were overlooked in favor of Pieper.
This incident highlights how politics can often influence decision-making within organizations and institutions such as the EU Commission. It also underscores how important it is for individuals to act with integrity and transparency when making decisions that affect others’ lives.
