Germany's Ursula von der Leyen nominated to lead EU Commission

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

Germany's Ursula von der Leyen nominated to lead EU Commission

2 July 2019

EU leaders have put forward their nominations for the bloc's top jobs, with a woman for the first time proposed as European Commission chief.

The surprise choice of German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen to replace Jean-Claude Juncker came after the main front-runners were rejected.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde has been nominated as the first woman to head the European Central Bank (ECB).

The announcement follows days of difficult negotiations.

EU leaders have put forward their nominations for the bloc's top jobs, with a woman for the first time proposed as European Commission chief.

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Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48847200


Ursula von der Leyen was backed by Angela Merkel but there was resistance to her nomination within the German coalition (Reuters)

[Ghost Dog]

1. EU socialists play hard-ball over Commission chief nominee

... EU leaders have nominated German centre-right von der Leyen (EPP) to lead the next EU executive. However, she still needs the approval of the Parliament, which will come with a price tag, say MEPs. The socialists in the EU House have been highly critical of the European Council’s package, saying that their candidate, Frans Timmermans, was sacrificed after the strong opposition expressed by populists and the Visegrad countries. Read: Visegrad leaders claim victory in race for EU top jobs

“Our candidate was cast out because he defended the European values and the rule of law. I can assure you that we will defend these principles with even more energy,” S&D Group leader Iratxe García said yesterday. An official discussion on the issue is due next week, but the S&D source said the German, Dutch, Belgian and British delegations have already fiercely opposed von der Leyen.

The source said García is closer to a compromise solution, apparently under pressure from Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who managed to secure a job for his foreign minister, Josep Borrell, as the new High Representative for Foreign Affairs as part of the EU Council package deal.

“The rest of the group is still negative but ready to listen and give a chance to explain her programme,” the source said. The same source added that the objective is to push the EPP candidate toward a more progressive agenda, especially when it comes to migration, climate change and social issues...

https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/eu-socialists-play-hard-ball-over-commission-chief-nominee/