The timetable of the future EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is shaking. After Britain has already refused to nominate a Commissioner in time for the planned assumption of office on 1 December, there is now also new anger in the European Parliament. There, three candidates failed in the hearings, and also with the replacement people, there are now problems.
Although the MEPs gave the go-ahead on Thursday for the Frenchman Thierry Breton and the Romanian Adina-Ioana Valean - which should be a relief from the Leyen. In particular, the confirmation of the designated Internal Market Commissioner Breton was by no means certain because of his past as a manager and the associated conflicts of interest allegations.
The Hungarian Olivér Várhelyi, however, was less fortunate: the deputies refused him their approval. He now has to answer further questions in writing and may then appear again for the hearing. In this second round, the Frenchwoman Sylvie Goulard had previously failed.
Várhelyi's performance was smooth - maybe too smooth
Should this also happen to Várhelyi, the Leyen would probably have to say goodbye to its goal of taking over the duties of European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker on 1 December. It would be the second postponement after the failure to take office on 1 November and the rejection of the first candidates from France, Hungary and Romania.
Várhelyi's appearance on the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee was smooth - maybe a bit too smooth. Since 2015, Várhelyi has been Hungary's ambassador to Brussels, and during this time he has not simply represented the policies of his increasingly autocratic Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. He often did so in the most self-confident, sometimes condescending manner. The reputation of a mediating and understanding diplomat does not attach to Brussels.
Orbán's policy of suppressing freedom of expression, weakening the judiciary and cracking down on non-governmental organizations has brought Hungary into EU criminal proceedings for endangering the rule of law - launched by the European Parliament. The fact that Orbán's Brussels governor is supposed to be the commissioner for EU enlargement is evidently hard to accept for many MEPs.
"I would just follow the EU line"
"How do you want to ensure that the rule of law and EU values are included in the candidate countries?" Asked the Croatian Social Democrat Tonino Picula, "if the policy of Hungary they represented was often the opposite?"
Várhelyi tried to run off the criticism. As Commissioner, he would follow the EU line - "and only the EU line". Even when Green Party politician Ernest Urtasun Várhelyi called a "loyal supporter of Orbán's priorities" and declared him a "loyalty issue", Várhelyi remained cool. "As a Commissioner, I would act completely independently," said the 47-year-old. He would "accept no government instructions". And of course only follow the line of the EU.
Nice words, said Urtasun, but not enough. Orbán recently promised Turkey to help her on her way to the EU, which was an interference in the role of the EU Enlargement Commissioner. Várhelyi should distance himself publicly. But Várhelyi did nothing like that, but stuck to his rehearsed line: "As a commissioner, I would not accept interference from a government." In addition, one can see from his work as an ambassador that he "worked as a European official very independent of government instructions," Várhelyi said without apparent facial irritation.
So much chutzpah was evidently too much for the MPs: they refused Várhelyi's confirmation and now want to ask further questions in writing. That should not be a pleasing read for Várhelyi. For example, Martin Schirdewan, co-leader of the Left, accused Várhelyi on Twitter after the hearing "lack of professional aptitude". Also the SPD delegate Dietmar Köster called the candidacy Várhelyis "extremely questionable". "How should someone strictly check compliance with the rule of law, democracy and human rights in the context of possible EU accession negotiations, which is sent by a government that circumvents everything?" Said Köster. The enlargement department must be entrusted to another commissioner.
Only the Christian Democratic EPP got some support. Várhelyi has shown "that he is fit for the job," said Michael Gahler (CDU), EPP Spokesman on the Foreign Affairs Committee. But the encouragement of the EPP alone will not be enough for Várhelyi - especially as many in their ranks have problems with Orbán and his followers. In March, the EPP suspended Orbán's Fidesz party. Orbán has retaliated by after the European elections, the EPP top candidate Manfred Weber has prevented as Commission chief. But Weber is still leading the EPP faction in the EU Parliament - and it could now turn its back on revenge.
