FT: Dombrovskis Favourite To Be Next Trade Commissioner

Jim Brundsen at the FT tweets: "Hearing @VDombrovskis is frontrunner to be the #EU's new trade commissioner. Decision expected fairly soon from @vonderleyen."

• Valdis Dombrovskis holds the official portfolio of 'Executive Vice President of the European Commission for An Economy that Works for People', making him one of the most senior individuals in the Commission.
• The Trade Commissioner position is empty following the resignation of Irishman Phil Hogan after revelations of his breaking of Irish COVID-19 restrictions.
• In order for Dombrovskis to take the Trade portfolio it would likely require some shifting around of portfolios among the College of Commissioners. His potential shift to the highly sought-after trade position is helped by his membership of the centre-right European People's Party, to which Hogan and indeed Commission President Ursula von der Leyen both belong.