The German ally of von der Leyen, MEP Markus Pieper, stepped down from his position as SME envoy just hours before he was set to begin his role last week. This came after substantial opposition from both the Commission and the European Parliament. The revolt led by Breton and three other European commissioners intensified during the EU election campaign, with Breton publicly criticizing von der Leyen in recent weeks.
As a liberal ally of French President Emmanuel Macron, Breton has been at odds with von der Leyen, who is a conservative German. The two women reportedly performed better on tests than Pieper and were shortlisted for the role, which had been promised to Pieper. 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.
During an interview with Handelsblatt on Monday, Pieper defended his withdrawal from the role and criticized Breton for casting doubt on the selection process. He deemed Breton’s criticism inappropriate and said it was driven solely by political motives. Despite this setback, it remains to be seen how long this rebellion will continue within the European Commission against von der Leyen.
