Episode 148: Maybe the Commission We Deserve

Previously in Europe

This week we discuss the problem children of the proposed von der Leyen commission and whether or not we deserve this...
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Show Notes
Have you considered...
The von der Leyen Commission
The Politico Europe org chart is good to get an overall view of hierarchy https://www.politico.eu/article/european-commission-president-elect-ursula-von-der-leyen-actual-organization-chart-commissioners-portfolios/ I count: EPP 9 S&D 10 Renew 6 ECR (because Poland) 1 Greens/EFA: 1(sort of... we'll get to that) They also did a good short summary when they were originally announced: https://www.politico.eu/article/meet-the-commissioners-president-ursula-von-der-leyen-team-european-commission-members/
So some of these are bad, can they be rejected?
Well... so they can pull themselves out of the running. Which has happened in the past, but...
The parliament votes on the commission as a whole, not on each commissioner. So they have the "hey stop gunking up the process" argument against them. To vote against you have to have to think the people you don't like are worth voting against the whole thing
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/faq/8/how-are-the-commission-president-and-commissioners-appointed
There are some problem children
Poland's nominee is reportedly under investigation
For irregularities in his spending as an MEP according to Der Spiegel (https://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/ursula-von-der-leyen-spesenaffaere-gefaehrdet-kommissionskandidaten-a-1285610.html). Apparently in the 5 digits range.. so... oof
Josep Borrell
I'll just leave this here - https://twitter.com/joethebrew/status/1111162199462993920
Also he's the only angry one in their class photo - https://www.politico.eu/article/confirmation-battle-commences-for-ursula-von-der-leyen-team-european-commission/
Margaritis Schinas
This is gross on many levels... one would Greece of had such a high position if they didn't just get a far to the right government? Vice president is a big deal and they sure did hate old Tsipras. So probably not...
Also "Vice-president for Protecting our European way of life". The fuck? He's going to be in charge of migration policy.
Junker is unimpressed:
https://www.politico.eu/article/jean-claude-juncker-criticizes-ursula-von-der-leyen-over-european-way-of-life-commissioner/
France and Sylvie Goulard
She was one of the MoDem people who resigned over a spending scandal while she was an MEP from the Marcon administration. She was also apparently being paid by an American think tank
https://www.france24.com/en/20190910-new-european-commission-timmermans-climate-change-hogan-trade-goulard-leyen