Thierry Breton, Top E.U. Commissioner, Resigns, Citing ‘Questionable Governance’

Europe|A Top E.U. Commissioner Resigns, Citing ‘Questionable Governance’

Thierry Breton, France’s commissioner to the European Union, resigned on Monday, criticizing Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, for what he called “questionable governance.”

Mr. Breton’s surprise move came a day before Ms. von der Leyen, a conservative German politician who secured a second term in July, was expected to announce her new team to lead the European Union’s executive arm over the next five years.

The resignation adds to the difficulties she has encountered forming a top team. The bumpy start is a measure of the challenges Ms. von der Leyen faces, especially in areas such as defense and the economy, as the European Union deals with the fallout of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its still weak post-pandemic economy.

It also reflects the more complicated political landscape in Europe, where elections in June gave harder-right forces more power in the European Parliament and have sown domestic divisions in significant countries like France and Germany.

Ms. von der Leyen has already pushed back her announcement of the 27 commissioners to make up the European Commission, with each E.U. member state getting one leadership slot. The commissioners act almost like a national cabinet, with each leader overseeing a policy area, including climate, trade and migration.

She had asked member countries to nominate both men and women for commission roles. After most countries nominated only men, several countries, under pressure from Ms. von der Leyen, in recent weeks switched their nominations to female candidates. Slovenia, embroiled in a domestic political dispute, has not yet named a commissioner.