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The French commissioner spearheaded a revolt within the European Commission against Ms. von der Leyen after the EU appointed figures from Germany, an ally of the commissioner, to senior business positions.
Breton I added with a wry smile. On Tuesday morning, he said he hopes “this important position for small businesses will be filled as soon as possible.”
The revolt against Ms von der Leyen, spearheaded by Ms Breton and three other European commissioners, intensified last week as the European election race heated up. Mr. Breton, a liberal ally of French President Emmanuel Macron, has fired multiple shots at his boss, the German conservative Ms. von der Leyen, in recent weeks.
Marcus Pieper has decided to resign from his position as special envoy for small and medium-sized enterprises hours before he is scheduled to take office. Despite having already signed a contract, Pieper changed his mind after significant backlash from both the European Commission and the European Parliament. During the selection process, two other shortlisted candidates, both women, reportedly obtained higher scores on the test.
EU lawmakers and members of Ms von der Leyen’s top team criticized her for the appointment, saying it amounted to playing party politics.
Pieper, who like von der Leyen belongs to Germany’s Christian Democratic Union, criticized Breton in an interview with German media outlet Handelsblatt on Monday, in which she announced her resignation from the position.
Pieper said Breton’s questions about the selection process were inappropriate and solely politically motivated.
“I successfully passed a very rigorous selection procedure.. “But the fact that Secretary Brereton, who has been responsible for small businesses and defeated bureaucracy, is now questioning the process is bad form,” Pieper complained.
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