Breton Resigns from the European Commission

European Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton quit with immediate effect. In a letter to the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Breton explained his decision to relinquish his role immediately was a result of France being asked to withdraw his nomination for the next term.

Breton claimed despite being put forward by French President Emmanuel Macron, von der Leyen had asked for him to be withdrawn for personal reasons, which he asserts had not been discussed directly with him. He also claimed France had been offered an allegedly more influential portfolio in the session of the College of Commissioners spanning 2024 to 2029 as a political trade-off.

Describing the development as further testimony to questionable governance he highlighted during his term he had relentlessly striven to uphold and advance the common European good, above party and national interests. Breton has been a regular fixture when it comes to digital and telecommunications industry matters during his five-year stint at the Commission.

He appeared on the MWC keynote stage and was regularly vocal on matters including spectrum issues, the fair share debate, sticking the knife into social media companies over content policies and digital competition alongside colleague Margrethe Vestager. Earlier in his career he was CEO of France Telecom, now Orange, and led the French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry.