Risks Of Splits Within Commission As Elections Approach

There are increasing risks of divisions emerging within the European Commission's College of Commissioners as the European Parliament elections approach on 6-9 June. On 6 March, the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) grouping selected incumbent Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as its 'lead candidate'. Following this, Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton posted on X criticism of the EPP and VdL's selection, claiming that “The EPP itself does not seem to believe in its own candidate.”

• Breton served as French Economy Minister from 2005-07 in the final two years of President Jacques Chirac's presidency. He left the Gaullist centre-right UMP in 2015, eventually joining incumbent President Emmanuel Macron's Republique En Marche, known today as Renaissance. The party sits within the centrist Renew Europe (RE) group in the European parliament.
• EPP Secretary General Thanasis Bakolas responded to Breton, saying "I know the liberals are anxious about the upcoming European elections - having no foresight, no message, no relevance."
• Public political disagreements between commissioners, or criticism of other commissioners, are a rarity. However, in the run up to the elections, given the prospect of a notable decline in support for the main centre-left, centrist, and centre-right blocs there is a risk that the cordial relationship breaks down.
• A breakdown in relations in the College of Commissioners could impact the internal workings of the Commission both ahead of, but also after the elections should member states re-nominate the same individuals for their Commission position.