Von der Leyen Proposes Teresa Ribera for an Executive Vice-Presidency in the Next European Commission

One by one, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled this Tuesday the composition of the next European executive, in which Teresa Ribera will initially occupy an executive vice-presidency and the portfolio of Ecological Transition and Competitiveness. Additionally, the German politician has offered an executive vice-presidency to the group of far-right Giorgia Meloni, to be held by Raffaele Fitto, who will also manage the portfolio related to Prosperity. Following the conference of presidents of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the German politician revealed to the press the names of the future commissioners—27 in total, one for each member state. Her proposal must now be validated by the European Council and the full Europarliament, which will have the final say and must give the green light to each of Von der Leyen's nominees.

Von der Leyen's presentation was uncertain until this morning due to yesterday's resignation of French Commissioner and candidate for the next Commission, Thierry Breton, who accused the president of the European executive of pressuring France to sideline him. The Élysée presented a new candidate yesterday, former Foreign Minister and liberal Stéphane Séjourné, who will also hold an executive vice-presidency.

The mandate of the European Commission concludes at the end of October, but Von der Leyen's twenty-seven commissioners must secure approval from both the European Council and Europarliament. European socialists have already warned that they will not support a proposal that does not ensure gender parity and that "brings Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) to the heart of this institution," referring to Meloni's group.