Last Tuesday, French commissioner Thierry Breton expressed his hope that the position for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) would be filled promptly. However, this hope was short-lived as a rebellion within the European Commission against von der Leyen intensified last week during the European election campaign.
Known as a liberal ally of French President Emmanuel Macron, Breton has publicly criticized von der Leyen, a conservative German, in recent weeks. This criticism reached a boiling point when MEP Markus Pieper stepped down from his position as SME envoy just hours before he was set to begin his role.
Pieper had signed a contract but changed his mind following substantial opposition from both the Commission and the European Parliament. Additionally, two other female candidates who were shortlisted for the role reportedly performed better on tests. Members of the EU Parliament and commissioners from von der Leyen’s top team condemned her decision, accusing her of engaging in party politics with the appointment.
Pieper, a member of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union like von der Leyen, announced his withdrawal from the role while criticizing Breton in a recent interview with Handelsblatt. In the interview, Pieper deemed Breton’s criticism of the selection process inappropriate and said it was driven solely by political motives. He expressed frustration that Breton, who had previously been responsible for SMEs and reducing red tape, was now casting doubt on the selection process.
