Enlarge image
Anton Hofreiter
Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa
According to SPIEGEL information, the previous group chairman of the Greens Anton Hofreiter is to take over the chairmanship of the European Committee in the Bundestag.
Hofreiter was at the head of the green parliamentary group for eight years and had actually expected to become minister.
But the still-party chairmen Annalena Baerbock and Robert Habeck decided surprisingly differently, after about a day of negotiations, Hofreiter was left empty-handed.
He was assured of a committee chair in negotiations between the chairman and the party wings.
In addition, he was reportedly given the opportunity to move up to the cabinet if a ministry should become vacant during the legislative period.
Successor in the cabinet or EU commissioner?
However, this has become a little less likely since Winfried Kretschmann declared that he wanted to remain Prime Minister in Baden-Württemberg for the full legislative period.
It had previously been speculated that he could resign early and make the new Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir his successor.
The personnel table could also change if the Greens really propose an EU Commissioner.
In the coalition negotiations, the party secured the right to propose the next German EU commissioner.
However, the German Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) is currently also Commission President.
If the Christian Democratic family of parties nominated von der Leyen in the European election campaign as the EU-wide top candidate and thus again candidate for the chairmanship of the Commission and wins the election, von der Leyen would be re-appointed as Commission President.
That would mean there would be no room for a German commissioner.
However, if such a post is vacant, Özdemir would be an option.
He used to be a MEP and a long-time foreign policy maker.
But Hofreiter could also position himself.
There is resistance in the party to this, but the European Committee could offer him space to make a name for himself.
So far, Hofreiter's political priorities have been traffic and environmental issues.
He had been traded as a candidate for the Ministry of Transport, but the department went to the FDP.
