European Council President Charles Michel is reportedly floating the idea of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis replacing Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission. The move is seen by many as Michel’s latest attempt to undermine von der Leyen.
Five EU diplomats and officials, speaking anonymously, revealed that Michel has been suggesting Mitsotakis for von der Leyen’s job.
“Michel has a box with banana peels for von der Leyen to slip on and he’s emptying it out,” one EU official told Politico.
Another diplomat added: “There is no role for Michel in this process, except for the one in his head.”
Despite these manoeuvres, Mitsotakis has consistently denied any interest in a Brussels position.
Aristotelia Peloni, director of international strategic communications for Mitsotakis, said: “He is 100 percent supporting Ursula von der Leyen for President of the Commission as he has done so from the very beginning.”
Thanasis Bakolas, the Greek secretary general of the European People’s Party, also dismissed the idea of Mitsotakis seeking a top EU job as “utterly ridiculous.”
The development comes amid a consensus among the 27 EU heads of state and government favouring von der Leyen for a second term and António Costa as the new European Council president.
Michel’s suggestions have been seen as destabilising efforts rather than constructive proposals, with one diplomat commenting: “Michel’s continuous attempts to undermine a second term for von der Leyen have weakened any credibility in the negotiations Michel had left.”
Von der Leyen’s reappointment is broadly supported, with one diplomat describing Michel’s actions as “childish revenge.”
Michel’s spokesperson dismissed rumours the EU Council President is trying to push for Mitsotakis to replace von der Leyen as “fake news”.