President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen faced another setback as her appointed ambassador for SMEs, Mark Pieper, resigned just hours before he was set to start his new role. Pieper’s appointment caused controversy within the Commission, with reports suggesting he was selected over more qualified candidates and that his affiliation with von der Leyen’s party, the Christian Democrats of Germany, raised concerns of favoritism.
The appointment prompted criticism from EU commissioners, including Joseph Borrell and Thierry Breton, who questioned the fairness of the selection process. Commissioner Breton, a member of the Renew group, opposed Pieper’s nomination, leading to Pieper’s decision to resign. The situation escalated further when Martina Dlabajová, a Czech ambassador for SMEs from the Renew group, filed an official complaint with the Commission about the recruitment process.
In response to Pieper’s resignation, von der Leyen issued a statement expressing respect for his decision and announcing that the process for selecting a new SME ambassador would be postponed until after the European parliamentary elections. Despite attempts to defend Pieper’s appointment and discredit critics, von der Leyen’s actions faced opposition in the parliament, with more than half of MEPs supporting an amendment proposal for a more transparent selection process.
The controversy surrounding Pieper’s appointment is just one of several challenges that threaten von der Leyen’s bid for another term as Commission president. With ongoing criticism and opposition from various factions within the EU, von der Leyen’s future as leader of the Commission remains uncertain.