Accusations of favoritism and political fights complicate Ursula von der Leyen's re-election in the European Commission. Four European commissioners of different political stripes – except from the European People's Party – have expressed their displeasure at the appointment of the German Markus Pieper.

The appointment was also made at a meeting of commissioners in which neither Borrell nor Breton were present. The controversy over plugging, which does not stop growing and threatens to add other names, is the symptom that the German campaign is becoming complicated. “It must be us, the Europeans, who decide who comes to the EU and under what circumstances, and not the mafias,” the EPP candidate stressed this Sunday.