EU fury as Juncker's right-hand man given Brussels top job
JEAN-Claude Juncker's right-hand man has been promoted to a top job in Brussels sparking fury as one critic branded the appointment a “coup d’état" and accused the European Commission President of abusing his power.
European Commission secretary-general Martin Selmayr's appointment has been criticised
Martin Selmayr has been appointed secretary-general of the European Commission. But his new role amounts to a “coup d’état’ with the full complicity of Mr Juncker, a French commentator has claimed.
And MEP Sven Giegold has echoed his comments – and called for an EU investigation.
Writing for Liberation, Jean Quatremer suggested the EU’s governing body had “internal rules” in order to slot Mr Selmayr into the post, prompting concerns over nepotism and also the large number of Germans who currently hold influential positions within the bloc.
Mr Quatremer wrote: “Wednesday's 'coup d'état", which allowed the unknown Martin Selmayr to seize power in the European Commission continues to provoke waves.
"As the dust falls, it appears that the internal rules have been abused by Selmayr, with the complicity of a group of conspirators and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.”
'As the dust falls, it appears that the internal rules have been abused by Selmayr, with the complicity of a group of conspirators and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.'
The European Commission could not directly appoint Mr Selmayr – who is officially still Mr Juncker’s chief of staff until his predecessor Alexander Italiener retires on Thursday – because he did not have the required rank.
The position of secretary-general is equivalent to the Commission’s Director General rank, and civil servant Mr Selmayr was only at director level, Mr Quatremer claimed.
Mr Quatremer said: “Before being appointed secretary-general (equivalent of a DG), Selmayr had to go through the stage as assistant secretary-general.
“Although he applied for the post in late January, the procedure, which usually takes more than a fortnight, was swift: on Wednesday, Selmayr was appointed deputy secretary general.
Mr Selmayr is currently Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker's chief of staff
“Then the acting secretary general resigned and was replaced by Selmayr. Two promotions in less than a minute, a world record.
“Not bad for a Commission supposed to be the guardian of the rules.”
British MEP Syed Kamall, who is also president of the ECR group, said: “How does the Commission expect people to believe the EU is capable of change and listening to the voters when the process for appointing to top positions is so opaque.
“The Commission should be looking at ways to make Brussels more transparent and democratic, yet this appointment resembles nothing more than jobs for the boys.”
Dutch Liberal MEP Marietje Schaake said Mr Selmayr was “political, controversial and not a bridge builder”, tweeting: “Maybe he should have run for political & accountable office instead."
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German MEP Sven Giegold believes the EU needs to launch an investigation
Mr Selmayr is replacing Alexander Italianer, who is retiring
The post of secretary-general became available after it was announced Mr Italianer was retiring after working for the Commission since 1985, and in his current job since 2015.
Mr Juncker said of Mr Italianer: “I want to express my deep gratitude to him for decades of loyal service to the European Commission and over the past three years to me as its President.“I truly appreciated working with such an experienced and knowledgeable secretary-general and I want to thank him for his skilful steer of our administration, as well as for having agreed to stay on for another month to ensure a smooth transition.”A European Commission spokesperson told Express.co.uk: "Martin Selmayr was appointed secretary-general of the Commission following all the legal and administrative procedures in place."