EU Commissioner Thierry Breton Resigns with Immediate Effect; Macron Proposes Sejourne

Sep 16, 2024, 09:57 AM

French European Union Commissioner Thierry Breton, the internal market chief, has resigned with immediate effect, citing a dispute with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Breton published a picture of his resignation letter on social network X, accusing von der Leyen of undermining him by requesting the formal withdrawal of his candidacy for the next term and citing 'questionable governance.' Breton's resignation comes amid reports that von der Leyen had asked French President Emmanuel Macron to propose a different nominee in exchange for a more influential role for France in the European Commission. Macron has since proposed Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne as the new candidate. Breton, who oversaw key industrial and tech policies, has been a controversial figure, known for his stringent regulations on Big Tech and recent threats to Elon Musk's social media platform X.