French European Commissioner Thierry Breton resigns, attacks von der Leyen for ‘questionable governance’

BRUSSELS — France’s European Commissioner Thierry Breton resigned Monday and accused his boss Ursula von der Leyen of undermining him, calling time on his stint in Brussels and throwing the EU’s power transition into disarray.

French President Emmanuel Macron nominated Breton for a second term in Brussels, but Breton pulled the plug, accusing Commission President von der Leyen of going behind his back to try to convince Macron to ditch him.

“A few days ago, in the very final stretch of negotiations on the composition of the future College, you asked France to withdraw my name — for personal reasons that in no instance you have discussed directly with me,” Breton wrote in a letter to von der Leyen, which he posted on X.

The move is an explosive and unexpected twist in the EU’s post-election transition of power, which has already been hamstrung by national politics and von der Leyen’s attempt to form a gender-balanced College of Commissioners. So far countries including Slovenia and Romania have withdrawn male candidates under pressure from von der Leyen, replacing them with women.

“Over the past five years, I have relentlessly striven to uphold and advance the common European good, above national and party interests. It has been an honour,” Breton wrote in his letter.

“However, in light of these latest developments — further testimony to questionable governance — I have to conclude that I can no longer exercise my duties in the College,” he wrote.

Breton accused von der Leyen of offering France a more influential portfolio if Macron switched candidates, a tactic she has reportedly tried with smaller EU member countries.

Tensions over France’s potential portfolio in the next European Commission have been boiling over the past days between Paris and Brussels. “France is not satisfied with the portfolio scope allocated to Thierry Breton,” said a senior French official from Macron’s party, before taking aim at rumors that Italy’s commissioner pick would get a coveted economics job.

There has been no love lost between Breton and the German von der Leyen, with the two repeatedly clashing in private and public during the last five years.

Breton’s move means Paris will need to nominate a new commissioner candidate.

The French commissioner had earlier teased the announcement with a cryptic post on social media.

This story is being updated.