Breton steps down as France's EU commissioner, criticising von der Leyen

16/9/2024 18:58

        Thierry Breton of France stepped down as a member of the European Commission on Monday and said he would no longer be his country's candidate for the next EU executive body, in an unexpected twist in the highly political EU power transition.
        
        Breton, one of the highest-profile members of the European Commission for the past five years, is best known for sparring publicly with tech billionaire Elon Musk and playing a key role in shaping the 27-nation EU's Big Tech regulation, its COVID-vaccine response and efforts to boost defence industries.
        
        A former French minister and industrialist, Breton announced his resignation on X as Commission President Ursula von der Leyen prepares to announce this week who will be part of her new five-year team.
        
        In his resignation letter, Breton alleged that von der Leyen "a few days ago" had asked France to withdraw his name as its pick for the Commission "for personal reasons" in return for an "allegedly more influential portfolio".
        
        He said France would indeed suggest another name in a rare last-minute change.