Slovenian candidate for European Commission resigns. The way is cleared for a woman

Brussels – Over the past few days, it has become increasingly clear that Ursula von der Leyen, the (re)elected president of the European Commission, was uneasy about the candidates’ shortlist proposed by the member states for her next college. They have substantially ignored her request to send her two alternative names (a man and a woman) to fill their box in the EU executive that will lead the Union in the coming five years, which so far appears predominantly male. It now seems that something is moving, with Slovenia announcing a change of its candidate, Tomaž Vesel, and his replacement—who will thus most likely be a woman.

As reported by Slovenian media, the candidate previously indicated by Ljubljana withdrew his name from the list of potential commissioners for the second von der Leyen College on Friday (September 6). It was Tomaž Vesel, a lawyer and economist affiliated with the liberals of Renew Europe, already president of the Slovenian Court of Auditors as well as of Fifa’s Audit and Compliance Committee.

Vesel justified his decision by citing differences of opinion between himself and the elected chairwoman of the new Commission about its composition. “Unfortunately, President von der Leyen and I do not share the same concept of how the next EU executive should function,” the economist said, wishing his country would “finally get a good and influential portfolio.”

His “resignation” has already been accepted by Liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob, who will now have to communicate a new profile to be sent to Brussels. According to local sources, the premier has already begun consultations with the government’s coalition partners to come to a solution as soon as possible. There appear to be two names in contention, both female. There is Marta Kos, Golob’s diplomatic party partner, who would be the preferred option of the ruling centre-left coalition in Ljubljana, but there is also social democrat Tanja Fajon, the current foreign minister, whom opposition leader Janez Jansa would prefer to Kos and could therefore represent a more “cross-party” candidate.

However, time is running out, as von der Leyen would like to formally present her new team as early as September 11. In October, the commissioner candidates will then have to undergo auditions by MEPs, after which the new college can finally take up its duties—but not before the vote of confidence from the EU Parliament’s plenary, expected between November and December.