PARIS/BRUSSELS: 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 defense 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.
“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,” Breton said in the letter.
Reuters was unable to immediately verify the allegation. Von der Leyen’s office declined to make any immediate comment.
Breton, a former business executive, was the EU’s industry and internal market commissioner during her first term.
His and von der Leyen’s relationship had taken a turn for the worse over recent months. The French commissioner, a liberal, had angered von der Leyen by publicly criticizing her nomination as the European conservative EPP’s party candidate to head the Commission for a second term, EU officials have said.
Breton’s public feuds with Musk had also been met with dismay among other Commission colleagues, officials added.
Key jobs
As the EU’s second-biggest member state, France is vying for a major post in the new Commission team, which follows on European Parliament elections in June — the starting point every five years for a shake-up of key jobs in EU institutions that have a major impact on policymaking across the bloc.
Each EU member state will have one seat at the Commission’s table, although their political weight and importance varies greatly depending on the portfolio.
Having to replace Breton is likely to add to French President Emmanuel Macron’s woes at a time when he is still trying to pull together a government at home with new Prime Minister Michel Barnier.
The French presidency did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.
Breton steps down as France’s EU commissioner, criticizing von der Leyen
https://arab.news/n3m8s
Breton steps down as France’s EU commissioner, criticizing von der Leyen
- Breton, one of the highest-profile members of the European Commission for the past five years
- Each EU member state will have one seat at the Commission’s table
Indonesian rescuers find debris from missing plane
- Indonesian Air Transport turboprop plane lost contact with the air traffic controller on Saturday afternoon
- Rescuers have yet to locate the 10 passengers who were on board
MAKASSAR, Indonesia: Rescuers on Sunday found the debris from a small plane that went missing in eastern Indonesia, but have yet to locate the 10 passengers who were on board, officials said.
The Indonesian Air Transport turboprop plane lost contact with the air traffic controller on Saturday afternoon while en route from Yogyakarta to the city of Makassar in Sulawesi Island.
Among the debris, the joint search and rescue team found what is believed to be “the fuselage, the tail section, and the windows,” head of Makassar search and rescue agency, Muhammad Arif Anwar, said at a press briefing.
A rescue unit was also deployed by air to search for the missing passengers, Arif said.
“Our current priority is locating victims, and we hope there are still some we can evacuate in a safe condition,” Arif added.
The plane crashed into Mount Bulusaraung in Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park, which borders the city of Makassar, Arif said.
The search on land and by air involved more than 1,000 people including members of the air force, police and volunteers.
Local military chief, Bangun Nawoko, told reporters that rescue efforts were hindered by harsh terrain and fog.
Three government workers from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries were among those on board, along with seven crew members.
Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said they had been on a mission to conduct aerial monitoring of resources in the area.
Indonesia, a vast archipelago in Southeast Asia, relies heavily on air transport to connect its thousands of islands. The country has a poor aviation safety record, with several fatal crashes in recent years.
In September, a helicopter carrying six passengers and two crew members crashed shortly after taking off from South Kalimantan province, killing everybody on board.
Less than two weeks after the September crash, four people were killed when their helicopter crashed in the remote Papua district of Ilaga.
