Spanish temper tantrum deadlocks entire European Commission
18 November 2024
Ursula von der Leyen's carefully crafted commissioner college crashed like a house of cards last week. It's all thanks to the Spanish right-wing party Partido Popular (PP), which led a campaign to block the Socialists' Teresa Ribera from her super-role of Executive Vice President of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, just two days before her parliamentary hearing.
In a last-minute move, PP handed Manfred Weber, leader of the European People's Party group, a comprehensive dossier outlining negligence accusations against Ribera for her mismanagement of the catastrophic floods in Valencia. They argue that her ministry failed to implement necessary flood prevention measures and issue timely warnings to regional authorities.
Weber agreed and withdrew EPP support from Ribera's candidature, allying with the EU's remaining far-right groups to block the socialist victory. It worked. Though MEPs praised Ribera's patience during her hearing as she faced attacks, her approval was blocked– and with it, the entire process to greenlight the new Commission.
The EPP's move to withdraw support for Ribera triggered a domino effect: Socialist MEPs retaliated by halting the approval of EPP-backed candidates, while Renew Europe took a cautious stance, refusing to proceed without assurances from both sides.
Now, all 27 commissioners-designate are stuck in limbo, leaving von der Leyen scrambling to salvage her team. With hearings concluded and evaluation letters expected next week, the EU faces a political standoff that could delay the Commission's start until after the New Year, leaving it rudderless during a critical geopolitical moment.
 | Leticia Batista Cabanas The Spanish PP party has put on an embarrassing performance, weaponising a catastrophe to enhance its agenda. Spain's political spectrum is so polarised that Ribera is perceived first and foremost as the socialist candidate instead of being celebrated as the Spanish representative about to land one of the Commission's most important portfolios. Spain has now effectively delayed the formation of the new Commission, at a time in which European unity is a priority. Trump's victory and 'America first' philosophy threaten to choke out support for Ukraine and strain economic and security ties with the block. |
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