France and Germany clash over European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker’s successor in post-EU election shake-up
- Merkel favours German politician Manfred Weber, whom Macron has virtually ruled out
- Other top posts being discussed include role of European Council president and next head of European Central Bank
France and Germany appeared on a collision course on Tuesday over who should hold one of the European Union’s most coveted jobs, after weekend elections across the 28-nation bloc redrew Europe’s political map.
Arriving in Brussels for an EU summit, French President Emmanuel Macron virtually ruled out the prospect of German politician Manfred Weber replacing Jean-Claude Juncker as the new president of the bloc’s executive arm, the European Commission.
Juncker’s term at the commission, which proposes EU laws and makes sure they are enforced, is due to end on October 31, and leaders from across the continent are gathering in Brussels to debate who should succeed him.
Macron told reporters that his preferred choice for the post would be someone who has “experience either in their country or in Europe that allows them to have credibility and savoir faire”.
That appeared to be a swipe at Weber, who has never served in government or a major institution like the commission. Weber, 46, has led the conservative European People’s Party group – the biggest group in the EU assembly – since 2014.