Macron nominates Breton for Commission, media reports

4 months ago 19

France’s President Emmanuel Macron will try to nominate Thierry Breton for the European Commission, angling for an expanded portfolio around economic security and defence, Le Monde reported on Thursday (27 June).

However, the nomination of Breton, currently Commissioner for Internal Market, could be challenged later in the summer, as Macron’s own grip on power is in jeopardy.

Breton has made a name for himself in Brussels for pushing several big and unique pieces of legislation, particularly around digital industries. That includes landmark laws on content moderation, competition, and artificial intelligence.

For the past year, Breton has been on an EU-wide tour meeting defence ministers and industries, in an attempt to revamp and modernise the defence industry. He has also been pushing to develop the EU space industry and drafting a Space Law.

The French President called for snap elections on 9 June, after his party suffered a huge defeat in the EU elections at the hands of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN).

The far-right party is expected to gain a large number of seats in the general election, according to several polls. According to French political tradition, the Prime Minister’s position should reflect the composition of the National Assembly, following the elections taking place 30 June and 7 July.

Jordan Bardella, RN’s leader, said this week, “The European Commission nominee is the responsibility of the French government,” adding he is considering “different profiles,” if he becomes prime minister, according to Public Sénat.

The Elysée has so far dodged answering questions on what procedure Macron would want to follow to appoint a French commissioner to Brussels, in case of a cohabitation with the RN, but considers the appointment is a prerogative of the President.

In theory, the Commissioner should not represent their country’s national interests.

The current, and likely next, president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is not Breton’s biggest fan, and vice versa.

The French Commissioner criticised her appointment in a post on X in March: “The EPP [von der Leyen’s party] itself does not seem to believe in its candidate,” he wrote, after she missed a few votes when appointed lead candidate for the post of Commissioner president by her political family.

Breton has also clashed with Margrethe Vestager, who as Competition Commissioner had to work closely with him on several issues.

Still, Macron can nominate Breton despite all these tensions.

The nominations are to be decided by the end of August, at which point the new Commission President, can start assigning portfolios.

[Edited by Rajnish Singh]