Thierry Breton has resigned as European Commissioner, dealing a new blow to Ursula von der Leyen's efforts to build her next team.
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00:00Thierry Breton has quit as EU Commissioner for the Internal Market, blaming European
00:08Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for his resignation.
00:12Breton, an incumbent appointed to the executive portfolio in 2019 and expected to secure the
00:19top job again, made the announcement on social media platform X on Monday.
00:24The Frenchman claimed that von der Leyen pressured Paris to submit another candidate for the
00:29upcoming new College of Commissioners due to, quote, personal reasons.
00:34He wrote on X that he became aware of the alleged lobbying, quote, a few days ago.
00:39I have concluded that I can no longer exercise my duties in the College, he said.
00:45The European Commission did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
00:49Breton's resignation forces France to submit a new candidate for European Commissioner.
00:55It also deprives the Renew Europe political group of one of its most prominent representatives.
01:02The new College of EU Commissioners was expected to be finalised by the 1st of November.