Thierry Breton, France's EU Commissioner for the internal market and industrial policy, has resigned effective immediately following a dispute with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Breton announced his resignation in a letter published on the online platform X, revealing that von der Leyen had requested France to propose a different candidate for personal reasons she never discussed with him directly. This request came during the final negotiations for the formation of the new Commission. In his resignation letter, Breton accused von der Leyen of offering France a seemingly more influential portfolio in return for his withdrawal.
Breton, who was responsible for the EU's industry and digital policies, played a significant role in advocating for stronger regulations on major digital corporations like Google, Apple, and Meta. French President Emmanuel Macron had officially proposed Breton for a second term, but tensions between Breton and von der Leyen had long been evident. The strained relationship culminated in Breton's abrupt resignation.
Von der Leyen, who recently secured another term as Commission President, had asked member states to nominate both a man and a woman for Commission positions, a directive followed by less than half of the 27 EU countries. She is expected to announce the composition of the new Commission on Tuesday in Strasbourg. The designated commissioners will subsequently face hearings before the European Parliament.
Breton's departure highlights underlying frictions within the EU's executive branch and raises questions about von der Leyen's governance approach. His resignation marks a notable shakeup ahead of the new Commission's formation and underscores the ongoing challenges in EU leadership dynamics.
