Thierry Breton, a French member of the European Union’s executive branch, resigned on Monday, citing dissatisfaction with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's leadership. Breton’s resignation comes as von der Leyen is trying to assemble a new team for the next five years.
In a letter shared on X, Breton accused von der Leyen of political maneuvering, claiming she sought to replace him with another French official without directly informing him. Breton’s resignation came just a day before von der Leyen was set to present her new commission team to the European Parliament.
Breton’s responsibilities, including overseeing the expansion of Europe’s defense industry to support Ukraine, now remain in question. Hours after his resignation, French President Emmanuel Macron nominated Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné to replace him.
Breton’s resignation highlights internal tensions within the commission, as von der Leyen has been pushing for a gender-balanced College of Commissioners for her second term. France, as one of the EU’s political powerhouses, may now play a pivotal role in shaping the future leadership of the commission.
President Macron played a key role in helping von der Leyen secure one of Europe’s most prestigious positions and has been a strong supporter throughout her first term.
Breton, meanwhile, has ruffled feathers within the commission due to his independent approach. Last month, without von der Leyen’s approval, he took to X to warn Elon Musk about the potential “amplification of harmful content” after the platform broadcast an interview with President Trump.
Musk responded with a dismissive comment, while Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, criticized the EU for “meddling in the US presidential election” instead of focusing on their own issues.
