'If he goes, I go': EU chief Juncker threatens to RESIGN if ally Selmayr is forced out
JEAN-Claude Juncker has threatened to RESIGN as President of the European Commission as the controversy over the appointment of Martin Selmayr as his secretary-general continues to rage.
Verhofstadt calls out Juncker for appointment of Martin Selmayr
German newspaper Der Spiegel reported that Mr Juncker made his extraordinary threat during a meeting of the European People’s Party (EPP), of which he is leader, yesterday.
Tensions have flared in Brussels following the appointment of Mr Selmayr, who spent years as Juncker's chief of staff and has been nicknamed 'the monster' for his no-nonsense attitude.
The EPP is a pan-continental organisation which serves as an umbrella group for centre-right parties across Europe, including Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union in Germany, and Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia.
The newspaper reported that during the meeting, which was attended by politicians including Mrs Merkel, Mr Juncker had complained about the reaction to his unveiling of German lawyer Mr Selmayr.
Jean-Claude Juncker has threatened to resign if protégé Martin Selmayr is forced to quit
#SelmayrGate: Martin Selmayr was at the @EPP leaders meeting today.
— David Carretta (@davcarretta) March 22, 2018
Is it normal that the Secretary General of the European Commission attends such political meetings?
cc: @inge_graessle
If he leaves, I'll go too.
A growing number of MEPs are demanding answers about the circumstances in which Mr Selmayr landed the post of the Commission’s top civil servant.
Plenty have been making use of the selmayrgate hashtag in order to do so.
Mr Juncker was reported as saying: "Selmayr will not go. If he leaves, I'll go too."
Spiegel further reported that a meeting of the the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) later that day had been attended by the Commission’s budget commissioner Günther Oettinger, who had apparently urged MEPs who attended the event not to work towards Mr Selmayr’s resignation.
Budget commissioner Günther Oettinger was reported as saying: "Without Selmayr, Juncker is helpless"
Mr Oettinger – the subject of a furious rant on the subject by Dutch MEP Sophie in 't Veld earlier this month – is reported as saying: “Without Selmayr, Juncker is helpless.”
Meanwhile MEP Elmar Brok, a long-term ally of Mr Selmayr’s who was also there, is reported as having shouted at colleagues: “How can you be against a German?”
His outburst astonished Green MEP Sven Giegold, who on Monday published a list of 29 questions about the affair.
These centre around the timing of his predecessor Alexander Italiener’s decision to stand down, and the rapidity with which Mr Selmayr was apparently promoted twice in a matter of minutes to replace him.
Dutch MEP RAGES over appointment of Martin Selmayr
Mr Giegold, who earlier this week claimed the issue was putting Europe’s credibility at stake, said: "Juncker's threat to resign is a disrespect for the democratic investigation of the Parliament.
“Instead of adding more fuel to the flames with his threats, Juncker should contribute to the inquiry.
“It is grotesque that the EU Commission President makes his fate conditional on the career of an EU official.
“Juncker is at the service of European citizens, not of Martin Selmayr.”