Top Jobs in EU

Love Leyens hair?.

Yes they are appointed by our elected representatives.

Whitewave, They have been put forward, just one per post after being chosen by the inner circle of outgoing Heads of the EU. The MEPs do not have a choice!

She has not made a brilliant job of Defence Minister in Germany. If I find out more I shall post here.

Apologies to Christine Lagarde she was charged and convicted of embezzlement not fraud?

I don't think it's all over bar the shouting yet..

From a quick search re election of Commission president:

Historically, the Council appointed the Commission President and the whole body by unanimity without input from Parliament. However, with the Treaty on European Union in 1993, the European Parliament, the body elected directly by the citizens of the European Union, gained the right to be 'consulted' on the appointment of the President and to veto the Commission as a whole.

Note the final sentence... From what I've seen on twitter MEPs are very much involved

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_European_Commission

Josef Borrel Fontelles - is elected as High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security - previously convicted on financial charges!!

Ursula von der Leyen President of the EU Commission- currently being investigated by the Bundestag for misconduct.

Christine Lagarde - President of the European Central Bank - convicted of financial matters!

Charles Michel - President of the European Council!

Three of these make Boris Johnson look like Snow White!!!

If three at the head of the Brexit Party had these convictions and allegations hanging over them I think there would be outrage and condemnation from every remain voter on Gransnett.

Christine La Garde was accused and convicted of criminal negligence in 2016, but no penalty was imposed.
Agree with you GrannyGravy.

The point is the the ' Spitzenkandidaten' system is still technically in place although the leading Spitzenkandidat Manfred Weber was overlooked this time, hence the President of the European Commission is now German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, from Germanys Christian Democratic Union.

It may have been a break from ' tradition' but like the other 4 top E U jobs it is the European Council that has decided who they were given to. It is now upto the European Parliament to ' endorse ' the majority of those named. I am sure they will but there some of the 28 countries in the EU who are a tad tired of the same old Franco/German /Northern European countries getting the top jobs.

Totally, totally, totally agree with you GrannyGravy, especially the comment you made about what the remainers would be saying if BJ had committed any of these offences. There will be double standards a plenty both on Gransnet and everywhere else in British society. Watch this space!

How could MEPs have a choice in electing the new EU President Ursula von der Leyen when there was only one name on the ballot paper?

Apologise that should have read when her name wasn't on the ballot paper.
Good article in Independent on Line, MEPs from all countries and many different political persuasions have spoken out about the undemocratic way the handover of top jobs has been dealt with.

GG13 ..... wonderful choices eh? ?
The sooner we leave the EU the better.

Granny gravy

The EU Council / EU Leaders decide to whom the top jobs goes to.

The MEP's merely vote to ' endorse' their decision, I think on July 15th.

Look up ' Spitzenkandidaten' for the role of Commission President although as I mentioned this is the 1st time they did not resolve to use the practice of ' Spitzenkandidaten' but it will probably revert back next time.

The term ' backroom horse trading' has been used a lot.

Happy to be told differently.

Three of these make Boris Johnson look like Snow White!!!

That made me laugh GrannyGravy. So true!

Not a ballot paper in sight. The issue of lack of democracy was raised by Ann Widdecombe in her maiden speech. Why are other MEPs shutting up and putting up?

These appointments were made behind closed doors. It's deplorable.

The EU Federation looms closer and closer by the day, with diktats being issued rather than democratic choices being made. If people are not worried, they should be.

Thank goodness we are leaving. Bring it on.

Where are the comments from the EU lovers? Surely they think these appointments are wonderful?
Apart from loving a hairstyle that is.?

Yes, Remainers are strangely silent.

I read a comment earlier that these deplorable appointments may be a good thing. If the history of these unpopular and somewhat crooked politicians is known throughout Europe it may hasten the demise of the EU.

Clouds and silver linings perhaps?

It is indeed strangely quiet on this thread, is it not

I'm as astounded as everyone on here, particularly Christine La Garde, anyone else would have gone to prison!! but I'm a leaver and the sooner we've left the better!

Did anybody watch This Week ?

Andrew Neil didn't pull his punches re the ' quality ' of those now in the Top Jobs.

So, I still don’t understand why you think the EU is now in safe or even better or optimistic hands with a failed German defence minister, a failed Belgian Prime Minister, a former finance minister found guilty of negligence in a multimillion-pound euro scandal, and a Spanish politician who has been a cheerleader for repression in Catalonia.

“Why is Europe in good hands with people like that?”
---

" She is the second most, from the Der Spiegel poll last month, the second most unpopular politician in Germany.

Her department has been under investigation for corruption scandals and dodgy defence contracts.

“The Spanish politician who is now the EU’s foreign policy man, was done for insider trading. How can these people, how can Europe’s future be safe in these people’s hands?”

In response, Ms Paviot said: “I think that the important thing to remember is that the defence secretary that you are calling a failed German defence secretary…”

But before she had a chance to continue, Mr Neil blasted: “It is the Germans who call her that. Most Germans do including the Bundestag report on Germany’s unpreparedness.

60 percent of their planes can’t fly. 100 percent of their submarines can’t take to the sea. They sent the German army into the Atlantic NATO exercise with broomsticks for guns.

“That is the woman who is now president of the European Commission. Your theme was an optimistic Europe, which we all need. I don’t understand your optimism with these appointments.”

Ms Paviot said she does not agree that the German defence minister is a failed politician, adding: “But then I mean very sadly one could also remember about British soldiers in Afghanistan and elsewhere having to pay for their own boots.

“So I don’t think one should point too many fingers about examples like that ".

It is not about Remain or Leave though is it.

It is about the underhand way the European Union in it's quest for a Federal Europe behaves and the new European Leaders.

Yes POGS, I saw Andrew Neil too. It was compelling viewing.

I think (but don’t know) that the EU put into power, I’m afraid I cannot say elect, they put into power those who will toe the line, seek ever closer union (does that mean ever more power really?) those who will not rat on them for anything they don’t do well or for their personal failings (alcoholism for example) and who will support the EU and it’s diktats without question. These failed politicians will carry out their duties without question, and their reward will be a salary level far and beyond anything they could hope to achieve by their own efforts, a pension beyond the imagination of us mere mortals, an expenses account that makes the British expenses scandal smallfry, and the perk of paying no tax on their income.

Nice work if you can get it!

‘Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.’
Lord Acton (a British historian.)

Own goal by the EU isn’t it?
They are now trying to square the circle by saying it’s a promotion of diversity (women in 2 top posts).
I agree, the Remainers are quiet on here aren’t they? ...
?