On September 16, the political landscape within the European Union shifted notably with the resignation of Thierry Breton, a French European Commissioner.
Thierry Breton’s abrupt departure has sparked widespread analysis, particularly within the Macronist camp, concerning Emmanuel Macron’s diminishing influence on European affairs.
Bernard Guetta, a Renew MEP and international relations expert, commented on the situation during a recent appearance on the program C à Vous.
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He noted the significant role Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, played in this development, implying that her opposition to Breton’s reappointment was the catalyst for his resignation.
Guetta’s frustration is palpable as he underscores a troubling realization: that President Macron appears unable to oppose the European Commission’s leadership effectively.
This situation raises critical questions about Macron’s standing within the EU framework. Newly elected Socialist MEP François Kalfon echoed these sentiments, stating that this episode starkly illustrates Macron’s declining leverage on the European stage.
Macron had advocated for Breton’s reappointment shortly after his legislative setbacks. The interplay of personal ambitions and political realities is palpable, emphasizing a pivotal moment for Macron’s administration.
As the political atmosphere continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how this resignation will further impact France’s stature within the European Union. Will Macron adapt and regain influence, or are we witnessing the beginning of a more subdued French role in European affairs?
“We must not believe that European institutions do not understand national political situations,” explains François Kalfon. In L’Opinion, Jean-Dominique Giuliani, president of the Robert Schuman Foundation, is just as severe.
“It is unprecedented that the French commissioner has been rejected. It is worrying for Europe,” warns the specialist in continental issues, who links this snub and the (failed) dissolution decided by the head of state: “We have the impression that the leader of Europe has lowered the flag.”
The Élysée, on the other hand, prefers to emphasize that the replacement of Thierry Breton by the resigning Minister of Foreign Affairs Stéphane Séjourné allowed for a broader portfolio, with the latter inheriting the lofty title of “executive vice-president for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy”.
Those familiar with the European game believe that this qualification is more ceremonial than actually executive.
Another point of contention for the presidential campaign is the “trust” that Thierry Breton supposedly lost with Ursula von der Leyen. However, even if it is not a must, the relationship between the two was already bad when Emmanuel Macron recommended his reappointment.
Stéphane Séjourné’s ” European ” profile, lauded by Macronie, is overshadowed by his decision not to re-enlist in the European Parliament, preferring to run as a deputy in the extremely comfortable 9th seat of Hauts-de-Seine.
As a result, unsurprisingly, these arguments are failing to persuade some observers, who see the appointment of this close friend of the head of state as a clever way to expel him from the Quai d’Orsay at a time when the new Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, is busy assembling his government. Sébastien Maillard, senior advisor to the Jacques Delors Foundation, refers to this movement as a “post-dissolution need for rehousing.”
