EU picks first woman to rule Brussels – German minister who called Brexit ‘a burst bubble of hollow promises’ by James Crisp
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/07/02/eu-leaders-pick-women-rule-brussels-first-time/
EU leaders have nominated two women to Brussels’ most important jobs for the first time, picking Ursula von der Leyen, a German defence minister who supports a United States of Europe and an EU army, to be the next president of the European Commission and Christine Lagarde to lead the European Central Bank.
Mrs von der Leyen’s selection as replacement for the outgoing Jean-Claude Juncker is a victory for Angela Merkel, who will have succeeded in placing a German member of her centre-Right European People’s Party (EPP) at the top of the EU’s executive for the next five years from Nov 1. But Germany abstained from the decision because Mrs Merkel’s socialist coalition partners did not support the choice for commission president.
Emmanuel Macron was persuaded to swing behind Mrs von der Leyen in return for Mrs Lagarde, the French head of the International Monetary Fund, taking the presidency of the European Central Bank.
Donald Tusk, the outgoing president of the European Council had said the allocation of the EU top jobs had to reflect gender diversity. “After all, Europe is a woman,” said Mr Tusk in reference to Europa, who in Greek Mythology was abducted by Zeus in the shape of a bull.
But he added that the nominations would make little difference to the impasse over Brexit.
“I am absolutely sure that the new leaders of our institutions will be as consistent as we are today when it comes to the withdrawal agreement and our readiness to discuss our future relationship with the UK,” Mr Tusk added, dashing Brexiteers’ hopes of renegotiating the Brexit deal.
Mr Macron insisted the EU would not blink and renegotiate the treaty. “We must not fear no deal, if you fear no deal you are the hostage on the ones you are facing ” he told reporters.
Prime ministers and presidents, including Theresa May, met for seven hours on Tuesday after negotiations lasting 20 hours broke up in frustration on Monday.
They reconvened on Tuesday for more talks after the summit ended in such frustration that Mr Macron said the EU was “profoundly tainted” by the failure to agree on compromise candidate Frans Timmermans, Mr Juncker’s deputy.
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