The allegations against the possible future enlargement commissioner Laszlo Trócsányi apparently go further than previously known. According to SPIEGEL, the Hungarian could be under pressure at the European Parliament hearings not only for his role as the architect of Viktor Orbán's judicial reform, but also because he has not always kept his political office strictly separate from his economic interests.
For example, a law firm founded by him received numerous government contracts - including during his time as Minister of Justice. "Trócsányi & Nagy" represented, for example, the US carrier Uber and several banks in cases involving Trócsányi's Ministry of Justice. Trócsányi emphasizes on request that he sees no conflicts of interest. He has since withdrawn from the law firm and has not been financially involved in it for over a year.
Criticism comes among others from the Greens. "I can not imagine that Ursula von der Leyen would like to work with some of these people," said MEP Daniel Freund. The danger with this staff was clear: "The next scandals are programmed." Freund, who used to work at Transparency International, has worked with the NGO to prepare a dossier about the Leyens commissary team that exists in SPIEGEL.
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Future EU Commissioners: From the Leyens WunschteamAlso, the leader of the European People's Party in the European Parliament Manfred Weber (CSU) looks at several of the Leyens Commissioner's need for clarification. "With the Polish and Hungarian candidates as well as with the Romanian candidate, there are still question marks that need to be eliminated at the hearings then," said Weber the SPIEGEL.
Against the Applicant from Poland Janusz Wojciechowski is investigating Olaf because of possible inaccuracies in travel expenses in the European Parliament. The applicant from Romania, Rovana Plumb, has to defend herself against allegations of abuse of office from her home country.
Commission hearings will start at the end of September, and the European Parliament will eventually vote on the entire Commission. Von der Leyen wants to start her new job on November 1st.
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