In a surprise move, European Commissioner Thierry Breton tendered his resignation on Monday, citing concerns over the European Commission’s governance and leadership. In a scathing letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Breton expressed his discontent with the process of selecting candidates for the next College of Commissioners.
Breton took issue with von der Leyen’s request to France to withdraw his name from consideration for a second term, citing “personal reasons” that were not discussed with him directly. Instead, von der Leyen offered France a more influential portfolio in the future College, which Breton saw as a “political trade-off.” This development, he argued, was further evidence of the Commission’s “questionable governance.”
Breton’s resignation comes on the heels of his high-profile clash with X CEO Elon Musk, whom he warned about the potential spread of “harmful content” through a conversation with former President Donald Trump. Breton had also urged Musk to ensure X’s compliance with EU law, sparking a public rebuke from von der Leyen.
Breton’s departure was met with celebration from X CEO Linda Yaccarino, who has been a vocal critic of the EU’s regulatory efforts. The move is seen as a significant development in the ongoing debate over freedom of speech and the role of Big Tech in the EU.
